Image encryption based on the random rotation operation in the fractional Fourier transform domains

A kind of image encryption scheme is presented by using a rotation operation being regarded as the scrambling scheme of the pixels. The rotation operation is composed of rotation center, radii and angle. For the data of phase and amplitude of complex number, the rotation operation is performed with random controlling parameters iteratively. The parameters are random and serve as the key of this encryption method. Subsequently, the fractional Fourier transform is introduced to alter the values of image pixel. The process mentioned above will be achieved many times for enhancing the security of the proposed algorithm. Numerical simulation is given to demonstrate the validity and performance of the image hiding procedure. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.