In class, we discussed a method to embed a hidden signal in a digital image known as least signicant bit (LSB)

data hiding. This method operates by replacing a bit plane (typically the least signicant) in an image with a

hidden binary message. Often, this hidden message is a binary representation of another image or contains text.

Write a Matlab function that extracts and displays a user specied bit plane from an image. Use this function

to examine each of the bit planes in the peppers.tif and baboon.tif images. As you examine progressively

lower bit planes, you should notice that each bit plane increasingly resembles noise.

What is the highest bit plane for each image that no longer resembles image content and instead appears to

be noise? Are these bit planes the same or dierent for these two images? If they are dierent, why would

this be the case?

Use your Matlab function from the previous part to examine the dierent bit planes of the following images:

LSBwmk1.ti, LSBwmk2.ti, LSBwmk3.ti. Do any of these images contain hidden content? If any

of these images contain hidden information, please make note of the image and include the hidden content

in your report.

Write a Matlab function that replaces the N least signicant bit planes from one image with the N most

signicant bit planes from another image. This function should accept both images along with the parameter

N as inputs and return the modied image containing hidden data in unsigned 8-bit integer format as an

output. Please comment your code and append it to your report.

Use this function to hide the top N layers of the Barbara.bmp image in both the peppers.tif and

baboon.tif images. How many bit planes of Barbara.bmp can you embed in each image before you

start to notice distortion in the host image? How many bit planes of Barbara.bmp can you embed in each

image before you can begin to see the hidden content? Are the number of bit planes that you can embed

the same or dierent for each image? If they are dierent, why would this be the case?