Adding watermarks to photos

[enderbylass]

Help ! What is the best way to watermark photographs for internet use please ?

[toothlessjim]

i think theres an option to add a watermark to your photo when you save it with photoshop

[Goldeeno]

either that or i have a few different watermarks, that i made on transparent backgrounds. then just copy and paste on the picture, and save as something new.

[VxDuncan]

Trick is in the placement. Watermark over an are that isn't flat shaded or a repeating pattern, as large as you feel is needed. Make your watermark complex and non repetitive too, so it can't be removed easily by fancy layering.

[_dobbo_]

Or... secret option 3.... Don't bother. Unless it's a picture of Britney waving her spaniels ears, I wouldn't bother with a watermark. Just don't put any HQ images up on the web, then they aren't worth stealing anyway.

[hawkaye]

VxDuncan said:

Trick is in the placement. Watermark over an are that isn't flat shaded or a repeating pattern, as large as you feel is needed. Make your watermark complex and non repetitive too, so it can't be removed easily by fancy layering.

I agree.



I'm not a big fan of them, but I suppose it gives the photographer "some" credit. Unless the person using the photo removes the watermark of course..

[RobDickinson]

Yeah that works...

[Famous Graham]

Depends on the picture.

I don't really worry to much and do the following :

If using Photoshop, add text layer and type what you want it to say. Then click and drag it around to somwhere useful. Then right click the layer in the layer palette and select "Layer Properties". Play about with the opacity slider and the drop shadow or other effects to get something you like.



Subtle enough not to intrude on the pic and gives the credit. It's not going to protect the pic but, at least in concert with the frame, it'll be a bit of work to crop and reframe etc, so just mildly dissuades.

(and if I ever see a cut down version of that, I can at least prove mine's the original)

However, a friend of mine (who Rob will probably recognise) does this :



Totally protects the image that, but, to my mind, prevents you seeing the detail should you want to buy it.

Horse for courses really.

Edited by Famous Graham on Tuesday 22 January 01:59

[RobDickinson]

Famous Graham said:

Totally protects the image that, but, to my mind, prevents you seeing the detail should you want to buy it.

Horse for courses really.

I dont think it is, that'd take 20min in PS to remove, the text is a constant grey and overlayed transparently on the pic, select all the text -> new adustment layer/levels and your likely to remove that easily.

Having a complex/random pattern as 'fill' for your (transparent) text is likely going to work a lot better. Anything that removes real picture data, and in important areas will work better but mar the picture more.

[Famous Graham]

Fair point. But it's quite a deterrent because it's a pain in the arse to do.

My point was the more comprehensive a watermark, the more you distract from the image itself. So it's a sliding scale.

And I can see Damien popping in now I've hotlinked that

Edited by Famous Graham on Tuesday 22 January 02:07

[_dobbo_]

Which brings us nicely back to my point - why bother? Post a picture at 700px or less and it's no good for print use. IF someone is determined to nick your stuff they will do so regardless of what steps you take to avoid it.

[nick_bbb]

I put it on all my stuff because some people rather than hot link to an image on my website will download and rehost it. Before I started putting my website on my photos a couple of paintings turned up of my work and the artist hadn't known who to contact about the photos as there was no traceability. If someone wanted to buy any of the images or commission something based on the work they would not know who to contact without the URL.

So it's not about nicking work it's about providing contact details

Edited by nick_bbb on Tuesday 22 January 09:13

[_dobbo_]

Nick, I'd class yours as a signature rather than a watermark. Yours is unobtrusive, and stylish.

The discussion here seems to have become one about preventing theft of your images, which is where I'm directing my comments.

[Mikey Monkfish]

This is mine...





I created it in photoshop, setting the opacity down and putting an inner and outer glow on it. This makes it visible on 90% of backgrounds. The Coppermine Gallery software I use for my site puts it onto the photo automatically when it's uploaded. I think it's large enough to stop image theft but unobtrusive enough to not spoil the shot .