A new image encryption algorithm based on reversible data hiding technique is proposed

which solves the problems of complex process

large amount of embedded information of existed algorithm and distortion when original image is restored. Take advantage of the pixel value most significant bit（ MSB） has the greatest influence on gray level replace the MSB bitplane of secret image to MSB bitplane of reference image which is previously selected

in order to conceal visual content of the secret image. This algorithm adopts a reversible data hiding algorithm based on histogram transformation to embed the information of image visual transformation

so that the capacity of data embedding is improved. Furthermore

the original image can be exactly recovered by the extracted information.