A first digital image is combined with a transformed first digital image to authenticate and reconstruct the first digital image. When viewed in the standard manner, the combined image appears to be the first digital image. The transformed first digital image cannot be seen. When the bits within each pixel of the combined image are reversed, i.e. the least significant bit (LSB) is exchanged with the most significant bit (MSB), and the resultant image is viewed, then the transformed first digital image is seen. In this way, the transformed first digital image can be hidden inside the noise bits of the first digital image. The method is applied to color pixels by treating each color byte independently. The transformed first digital image can be encrypted before combining with the first digital image. The transformed first digital image can be inversely transformed back to the first digital image for authentication and reconstruction.