Copyright Signatures - Your Thoughts

68lbs

68lbs

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April 2008
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Taken from another thread here...

Am interested in people's thoughts on this...

glitch said:
Now, there is one thing in all these shots that doesn't work for me, and that's your signature. I just find it really distracting and I have to ask myself why you've chosen to add it to all your shots. I can appreciate that you want to retain copyright but having it there doesn't really serve any purpose as far as I can see.

If I was to steal your work and try to pass it off on my own, I could have that signature gone in about a minute's work. But if I happened to see your work on a website somewhere (assuming it had been 'borrowed' without your permission) I can't get in touch with you to see if you've got any more amazing photographs. Your name doesn't Google so I'm sort of stuck.

Do you have a website URL you could use instead?
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This is interesting. I guess I feel I should have it there, because others do. I've only recently taken up photography (May 2008) so don't do any 'jobs' and wouldn't feel confident if someone wanted me to either, so don't have a website/portfolio or business to promote. However, I am looking to improve with a view to possibly being able to make some money in the future, and the professional in me (I've always worked for myself or run small businesses) tries if nothing else to look professional from the outset. I don't want to add a massive distracting watermark, but I do want to make my work identifiable. Yes, it can be cloned out or cropped off, but it's there as a visual deterent (however meaningless). Perhaps I should, even at this stage, look at registering a domain? Perhaps I should add my flickr url? I did used to put '© 68lbs_on_flickr' but I felt it was less professional.
 
Huh? Is it 'lets post a random word' day? ;)
 
68lbs said:
Huh? Is it 'lets post a random word' day? ;)
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:lol: I thought that mmmm

I think you should use your signature on your photos, although it easy to remove, you could use a watermark on the image that is barely visible, but would take a lot of PS to remove, and probably make the image unusable for anything :shrug:

Dave
 
This is a question I was wondering too, thanks for posting it Lee. I'm not certain if any of mine would be worth anyone helping themselves to at the moment, so do you think Dave, that all images should be watermarked in some way ?
 
I have put watermark on some images of mine in the past, that I considered they were worth nicking, but not every image I take or post

eg these

Paduang (Karen Long Neck) Tribal Lady Chaing Mai Thailand

2249623639_9011dc71f4.jpg


phra nakhon cave temple Thailand

2251602685_396317d0e5.jpg


Dave
 
I use a watermark with my name and website on. Firstly, this is to deter the average person who thinks anything on any website is free for them to use, and secondly for adverstising of sorts. If someone sees an image of mine and likes it, then they know where to find more of them and how to contact me.

I see no point using a watermark that just has the copyright symbol only:bonk:
 
I hate watermarks of any kind myself (in the same way I hate borders or shadows), but I do appreciate their usefulness in stopping people robbing off with your pics!
 
ryank said:
I hate watermarks of any kind myself (in the same way I hate borders or shadows)
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Me too, but you need to have something, if you post an image with even a tiny watermark and it gets stolen, at least you know that they knew it wasn't a freebee and thus, "sos buddy accident" ain't gonna wash.
If you are to ruin a photo with horrible big watermarks right in the middle of everything, what's the point in posting it in the first place ?
I don't think 68's signature is too bad, just a little...bright, change to a more sympathetic colour or lower the opacity, just blend it a bit so it doesn't draw the eye so much.
 
-RV- said:
I use a watermark with my name and website on. Firstly, this is to deter the average person who thinks anything on any website is free for them to use, and secondly for adverstising of sorts. If someone sees an image of mine and likes it, then they know where to find more of them and how to contact me.

I see no point using a watermark that just has the copyright symbol only:bonk:
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I agree. Now a name or email address might be a good thing.
 
people steal images. fact. so watermark helps protect your work, you took the picture, you dont want to find someone else profiting from it or using it without permission.

borders are for presentation/
 
I add a boarder because I personally think it makes the photo look more presentable. I've not always done this, it's a new thing, but it's something I like.

As for the watermark, I started doing it when I first started photography because I used to do a lot of design work & photoshops (virtual cars etc) so I always added my name/nickname onto them. So I suppose when I came to learn photography, it was just a natural thing for me to do, and it's carried on from there.

As 'Glitch' posted, if he REALLY wanted to use the image, the watermark could be gone in seconds. I know this, and my watermark is my nickname in the bottom right/left corner, with 30 seconds of photoshop work it'd be gone and nobody would ever know it was there. But, even still, I always put it on.
 
petebarnes said:
For image theft, I really hope tineye takes off, it's a fantastic idea, just needs to index the billions of images out there!
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Developed by the Canadian company Idee, the TinEye search engine is a fantastic new breakthrough in the realm of search engines that allows users to search for their photographs anywhere on the Internet. Users are able to actually search for a picture by uploading it, and then having the program run a pixel by pixel search across the ‘Net. All found instances of the image are flagged, regardless of whether it has been cropped, merged or digitally altered in any way.
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Worth trying IMO.
 
I suppose it all boils down to the photographers personal preference...

The pics I post on t'internet are no bigger than 800*600, and 72dpi. I've moved my copyright to the border, I'd rather you all had an unsullied view of the crap photos I take;)
 
I put some pics on my website on Monday morning from an event over the weekend and by lunchtime, one of them was on someone's Facebook (Friend of a friend) as I had put them up without a watermark initially.

I have now put watermarks on them and hopefully they don't spoil the image too much, but I think it has become a necessary evil!

dsc06978.jpg
 
reddeathdrinker said:
I'd rather you all had an unsullied view of the crap photos I take;)
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And, I for one really appreciate seeing your crap photos as they are intended to be seen.

I think that a shot posted for C&C should be free fom a watermark....in fact I think any images posted here should be of watermarks....but that would lead to a heated discusion without a doubt. If the image is for sale somewhere then watermark it on the site where it's for sale....if it's posted here for peoples opinions or pleasure then leave it naked. There are certainly individuals on this site (and others) who use it as a free source of advertising (thinly disguised).

All IMHO....:)

Bob
 
The thing is Flickr is a great starting point for people who want to steal images. My website is pretty much the only place where I don't watermark my images, as I know they are in a Flash gallery so pretty hard to get at...
 
I watermark my images on forums etc, not for the fear of theft as its very easy to remove them, so if they are linked too somewhere else on the net people will hopefully find their way back to me.

Images on my website are not watermarked because having your name/web address repeated over and over looks messy. My hope is that if someone saw an image they liked on my website they would just link to the site if they wanted to show others.

I don't see what the issue is with sticking one on. Unless its massive and totally in the way of a key element of a shot I can look past them for critiques etc. Plus I see no point in uploading images twice, once with a water mark and once without for forums where they bother people (which thankfully, is next to none).

Sometimes a photo has taken a lot of time and effort to capture so I think its only fair all that effort be recognised if only by the person who took it sticking their name on.
 
Canon Bob said:
I think that a shot posted for C&C should be free fom a watermark....in fact I think any images posted here should be of watermarks....but that would lead to a heated discusion without a doubt. If the image is for sale somewhere then watermark it on the site where it's for sale....if it's posted here for peoples opinions or pleasure then leave it naked. There are certainly individuals on this site (and others) who use it as a free source of advertising (thinly disguised).
All IMHO....:)
Bob
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I think that sums it up all quite nicely Bob :thumbs:

I am not sure where you are going with your latter comment, though
Would you care to elaborate? :D
 
Cobra said:
I think that sums it up all quite nicely Bob :thumbs:

I am not sure where you are going with your latter comment, though
Would you care to elaborate? :D
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I failed my O-level in Elaboration Chris (before the days when everyone passed everything) so I'm not the best person to push this one forwards.
I do however think that some images would be more at home in the classified section.

Bob....staying just below the parapet this time ;)
 
Sounds like someone clearly has something to say here. Not wanting to pour meths on things, but a comment like that cant just be made in passing.
 
Cobra said:
I am not sure where you are going with your latter comment, though
Would you care to elaborate? :D
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68lbs said:
Sounds like someone clearly has something to say here. Not wanting to pour meths on things, but a comment like that cant just be made in passing.
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There you go Mr Cobra...see what you've done now?

Shouldn't you be out there persecuting moles or something?
 
The internet is a big bad place. And if anyones gonna make money from their images it should be the photographer who took it.

It's all well and good saying watermarks should be left off, but the fact of the matter is people steal content. All the time. Even this forum isn't safe, its not like you need to be a member to see the forums.

Just IMHO but still, might as well make myself heard eh :)
 
While i was in asda photo dept, a lady wanted a photograph reducing to key ring size, the assistant said "have you got permission as this is a professional photography and the photographer would have the copy-right", errr she said i only want to make it smaller, OK can you sign this form to say you have permission", yes ???? and the deal was done,i did not see any form??? how safe are your photo's in what ever media format, i have been on web site and you cannot right click >save< the photo,but technology is out there to do it, it is a shame a watermark does spoil the overall effect of a picture, but what to do??????

Regards Mark


A watermark would enhance my shots.... :lol:
 
MikeeB said:
The internet is a big bad place. And if anyones gonna make money from their images it should be the photographer who took it.

It's all well and good saying watermarks should be left off, but the fact of the matter is people steal content. All the time. Even this forum isn't safe, its not like you need to be a member to see the forums.

Just IMHO but still, might as well make myself heard eh :)
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Exactly, no need to say anymore really.
 
I sell a lot of pictures online.. no watermark and they would just print there own and not buy... if I show them smaller there not impressive enough to sell.. so a decent size with a great big watermark accross the middle will do me..
 
I dont sell any pictures. Probably never will. I have a watermark on my pics sometimes because i think its cool. They do no one any harm and Imo makes your work have a "thats mine" feel.

My pics are crap i still put them on. i even have a private plate on my car with my name on. not really much different
 
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