Visual-cryptographic image hiding with holographic optical elements

In this paper, we propose a visual-cryptographic image hiding method based on visual cryptography (VC) and volume grating optics. The secret image is converted to the encrypted visual keys (VKs) according to the normal VC algorithm. Then the VKs are further embellished to the QR-code-like appearance and hidden as the holographic optical elements (HOEs), which are fabricated by the holographic exposure of photopolymer. In the decryption process, the fabricated HOE-VKs are illuminated with the laser beam. The reconstructed VKs are overlaid to extract the hidden information directly in the optical facility, without additional computation. Optical experiments verify that the VKs in HOE mode improves the system with high security and good robustness on the random noise attack. Besides, the volume grating nature also enlarges the system bandwidth by using the multiplexing technique. The proposed method may provide a promising potential for the practical image hiding systems.