Protecting images on the internet
Discussion
I'm playing around with a small website for some of my photos.
I'm not doing it with the intent to sell them (though if anyone's interested that's a bonus) but I would prefer people not to pinch them, at least not without a credit.
I've seen various ways:
1)a URL in the image lets people know where it's come from - though it can always be cropped off or PhotoShopped away.
2) The 'right-click/save as' feature can be deactivated - though you can always do a screen grab.
3) Then via PS I found www.digimarc.com - is it any use?
What's the best answer?
I'm not doing it with the intent to sell them (though if anyone's interested that's a bonus) but I would prefer people not to pinch them, at least not without a credit.
I've seen various ways:
1)a URL in the image lets people know where it's come from - though it can always be cropped off or PhotoShopped away.
2) The 'right-click/save as' feature can be deactivated - though you can always do a screen grab.
3) Then via PS I found www.digimarc.com - is it any use?
What's the best answer?
John
What I do is to create very low res images that look ok on screen but the quality if printed is rubbish
If you look at some on my website here is a direct link www.sailshots.co.uk/ORMA60.html I think those files are less that 20kb each
Thanks for sorting out the card for me today
Cheers
Steve
What I do is to create very low res images that look ok on screen but the quality if printed is rubbish
If you look at some on my website here is a direct link www.sailshots.co.uk/ORMA60.html I think those files are less that 20kb each
Thanks for sorting out the card for me today
Cheers
Steve
1) disabling right-click infuriates many people, especially with the messages they offer "these images are ours", um, why would I want to pinch it?
2) take a screen shot and manipulation can yeild the original
A much better way is to simply makes the images small (I do 480*x) and low quality <72dpi. They are simply worthless for anyone else...
2) take a screen shot and manipulation can yeild the original
A much better way is to simply makes the images small (I do 480*x) and low quality <72dpi. They are simply worthless for anyone else...
Check out my site - www.davidhambly.co.uk
Ive optimised the images in Fireworks, theyre only 72dpi - no use to anyone at all. Ive also put an overlay on - do a 'right click / save image as' on one of my image pages and all youll get is a transparent image with my URL on it. The way to do this is as follows:
a)create a table on the page with 1 cell and 1 column. Make it the exact size of your image
b)set your image as the background to the table/cell
c)create a transparent image in Fireworks (or transparent with your URL on it). Make it also the exact size of your image.
d)insert the transparent image into the table cell - it will sit over the top of your actual image.
This method wont deter people who really want to steal them - they can just do a 'right click, view source' to find the real URL of the image. Most people will give up though, i know a few people who thought they were quite handy on a PC and thought they would nick some of my wedding shots rather than pay for reprints - they couldnt work out how to save the shots. I guess they just did a screengrab in the end. All they get is a poor quality 72dpi shot though, no good for printing.
If you dont have Fireworks or any other means of creating a transparent GIF, mail me the dimensions of your images (i recommend 2 - one landscape size, one portrait size) and ill sort you the images and mail them over to you.
Good luck mate.
Dave
Ive optimised the images in Fireworks, theyre only 72dpi - no use to anyone at all. Ive also put an overlay on - do a 'right click / save image as' on one of my image pages and all youll get is a transparent image with my URL on it. The way to do this is as follows:
a)create a table on the page with 1 cell and 1 column. Make it the exact size of your image
b)set your image as the background to the table/cell
c)create a transparent image in Fireworks (or transparent with your URL on it). Make it also the exact size of your image.
d)insert the transparent image into the table cell - it will sit over the top of your actual image.
This method wont deter people who really want to steal them - they can just do a 'right click, view source' to find the real URL of the image. Most people will give up though, i know a few people who thought they were quite handy on a PC and thought they would nick some of my wedding shots rather than pay for reprints - they couldnt work out how to save the shots. I guess they just did a screengrab in the end. All they get is a poor quality 72dpi shot though, no good for printing.
If you dont have Fireworks or any other means of creating a transparent GIF, mail me the dimensions of your images (i recommend 2 - one landscape size, one portrait size) and ill sort you the images and mail them over to you.
Good luck mate.
Dave
Set the proper image as the background rather than inserting it in the cell.
Doesn't stop anyone stealing it though, even simply doing a file save as on the page will download the pic to their machine and anyone who knows about computers will just look at the html and get the url from the pic from that. The only way to stop people stealing it is to make it 72dpi and bung a water mark on it.
Doesn't stop anyone stealing it though, even simply doing a file save as on the page will download the pic to their machine and anyone who knows about computers will just look at the html and get the url from the pic from that. The only way to stop people stealing it is to make it 72dpi and bung a water mark on it.
docevi1 said:
A much better way is to simply makes the images small (I do 480*x) and low quality <72dpi.
Pixel count is what determines the displayed size and level of detail. dpi is only a hint as to the preferred printed size, and has no meaning to a web browser. A 480x360 image @ 72dpi would be indistiguishable from a 480x360 image @ 360dpi (but the 360dpi one would "want" to be printed smaller).
Found this at www.kenrockwell.com/gallery.htm
'Ever wonder how I make so much money to allow me to travel so well? Putting these tempting, high quality files up with special tracking elements devised originally for the NSA allow my legal staff to print money every time someone right-clicks or hits "print" without permission. Prosecuting just a few people a year provides me with a very relaxed life! It is very easy to track these things today, especially with the broad snooping powers now being granted everywhere with the Patriot Act and modern federal-grade spyware, so please get permission first. Ask and I'll probably invite you to travel with me. Forget to ask and you've committed a crime..
'Ever wonder how I make so much money to allow me to travel so well? Putting these tempting, high quality files up with special tracking elements devised originally for the NSA allow my legal staff to print money every time someone right-clicks or hits "print" without permission. Prosecuting just a few people a year provides me with a very relaxed life! It is very easy to track these things today, especially with the broad snooping powers now being granted everywhere with the Patriot Act and modern federal-grade spyware, so please get permission first. Ask and I'll probably invite you to travel with me. Forget to ask and you've committed a crime..
Mad Dave said:
Ive also put an overlay on - do a 'right click / save image as' on one of my image pages and all youll get is a transparent image with my URL on it.
That's very clever, never thought of that. However as you say, it is easy for anyone who knows how HTML works to defeat it. Also, I use Teleport Pro to spider whole sites on occasion. That doesn't make a distinction between background images and normal ones, it just gets every image it can find, even coping with some javascript. At the end of the day, if a browser can render an image, then nothing can stop someone from getting a local copy of it if they are determined. I take the view that if you publish a picture on the internet, then realistically you can't enforce any copyright on it.
steve-p said:
I take the view that if you publish a picture on the internet, then realistically you can't enforce any copyright on it.
What do you make of this:
www.digimarc.com/solutions/communication/default.asp
'ImageBridge’s powerful ability to digitally watermark your image with an imperceptible, persistent identifier is a cornerstone of many major IP compliance programs. Plus, with ImageBridge MarcSpider, you can track your watermarked images across the public Internet to see where and how they are being used.'
simpo two said:
What do you make of this:
www.digimarc.com/solutions/communication/default.asp
'ImageBridge’s powerful ability to digitally watermark your image with an imperceptible, persistent identifier is a cornerstone of many major IP compliance programs. Plus, with ImageBridge MarcSpider, you can track your watermarked images across the public Internet to see where and how they are being used.'
It looks good. The trouble is, no matter how good it is, with the exception of Western Europe and the US, copyright compliance doesn't necessarily mean very much. What can you do when a search turns up hits in Russia, or China? There's not much you can do, really. How much does this product cost, anyway?
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