Color Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Dynamic Block Zigzag Transformation and Six-Sided Star Model

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper presents an interesting idea but it should be modified in some parts:

- A section relating to the state of the art is completely missing even if some references have been included in the introduction;

- In section 2 "Materials and Methods" an introduction should be inserted regarding what you want to introduce and perhaps a summary figure, a sort of graphic abstract, of the proposed framework;

- Section 3.1 should be rewritten in algorithmic form and not as a simple paragraph;

- The figures should be qualitatively improved (example figures 9 and 10);

- A description of the datasets used is missing (perhaps in a table);

- Figure 7 shows a star-graph. What happens if you try to reduce its dimensionality? Below is a paper that could be cited and give inspiration:

Manzo, Mario, and Alessandro Rozza. "DOPSIE: Deep-Order Proximity and Structural Information Embedding." Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction 1, no. 2 (2019): 684-697.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments:

1.Poor quality of all the images and equations. Make them in vector format.

2.Errors in rows 140, 143, 391, 392, ....

3.You can rewrite the paper in Latex, the MS Word quality is awful.

4.I dont see what is UACI, BACI and NPCR.

5. Ref [45] is incorected cited. Shell be 

1. Rukhin, A.; Soto, J.; Nechvatal, J.; Smid, M.; Barker, E.; Leigh, S.; Levenson, M.; Vangel, M.; Banks, D.; Heckert, A.; et al. A Statistical Test Suite for Random and Pseudorandom Number Generators for Cryptographic Application; NIST Special Publication 800-22: Revision 1a; Lawrence, E., Bassham, III, Eds.; NIST: Gaithersburg, MD, USA, 2010.
2. Check all the Refs.
3. 6. The NIST tests Cumulative sums and Serial are from two parts. Random exc. is from 8 part, and Random exc variant is from 18 parts. Give results correctly.
4. 7. Compare your key size with other closely related algorithms.
5. 8. Compare the proposed encryption with AES in every Table and in the text.
6. 9.Why Sine-Exponent-Tent chaotic system is choosen?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Major:

- You should explain differences between [41] and the proposed.

- Section 3, and specially 3.3. resembles references, including http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11042-022-13003-x. This should be rewritten.

- Abstract: You should make clear: is it image encryption or color encryption or "color image" encryption?

- Introduction: Contributions 2 and 3 must differ more or should be fused. 

Minor:

- Line 141: "[1, 1024] according" - it is some mistake. 

- Eq (17) and (18) have error. There are question marks.

- Fig 15 and 16 should have larger resolution. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Reference 32 is incorrect. Here is the right one:

Manzo, M., & Rozza, A. (2019). DOPSIE: Deep-Order Proximity and Structural Information Embedding. Machine Learning and Knowledge Extraction, 1(2), 684-697.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I am satisfied with the answers.

Author Response

Thanks for your positive response.

Reviewer 3 Report

Answer to point 1 should be in the manuscript text in short form.

 

Eq. 23 could be better styled. Square (superscript) is too far from the rest of the expression.

 

About line 170. "[1, 1024] ". Author instructions: " [5] (p. 10). or [6] (pp. 101–105)." You stated that you have reference no 1024? You probably meant p. 1024?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf