Distortion free secret image sharing based on X-OR operation

We propose a secret sharing algorithm which allows a secret image to be divided into (n : n >; 2) image shares. The share generation algorithm works by dividing one 8-bit pixel of original secret image into two parts of 4-bits each. We find a pair of 4-bits whose XOR gives a specific 4-bits of secret image. Each pair is then concatenated together to form a 8-bit number which is then taken as a pixel value of a share. Depending upon whether the original 4 bits were of even positions or odd positions, the share is categorized as even group of share or odd group of share. Two shares one from each group is needed to reconstruct the original secret in a lossless way. Our method of share generation is an very easy and lossless way to generate shares and reconstruct the secret image when needed. Moreover, Individual share does not possess any similarity with original images and looks meaningless which is confirmed by Structured Similarity Index Metric (SSIM).