Sharing and hiding secret images with size constraint

This paper presents a method for sharing and hiding secret images. The method is modified from the (t, n) threshold scheme. (Comput.Graph. 26(5)(2002)765) The given secret image is shared and n shadow images are thus generated. Each shadow image is hidden in an ordinary image so as not to attract an attacker's attention. Any t of the n hidden shadows can be used to recover the secret image. The size of each stego image (in which a shadow image is hidden) is about 1/t of that of the secret image, avoiding the need for much storage space and transmission time (in the sense that the total size of t stego images is about the size of the secret image). Experimental results indicate that the qualities of both the recovered secret image and the stego images that contain the hidden shadows are acceptable. The photographers who work in enemy areas can use this system to transmit photographs.