Is my watermark too big?

[Tenorphoto]

I have had quite a lot of discussion with various photographers about watermarks and the consensus I have come to is that the watermark should be large enough to mean that the image cannot be "pinched"! I host my images on zenfolio and the watermark is automatically applied when one views the image, so my question is, what is your opinion about the optimum size and placement? Here is a sample image with watermark to assist the discussion.

 

[grotty]

Some will say it is, some will say it's fine - I don't have an issue with the size. if you don't mind me asking; is that rainbow colour bit part of it? That looks a bit strange to me, like the image wasn't recorded properly.

 

[Tugster]

Not too big at all but very easy to clone out of the image. My view on watermarks is either they are there to reduce/prevent image theft or they are there to advertise who you are. If there to prevent theft then big and bold ...if on the other hand, to advertise your good self, then I believe yours is fine. When I say theft, I mean copying or grabbing from the screen. Perhaps a better term would be copyright infringement.

 

[Gaz J]

Dont water mark my images, just post them at very low res. If i was going to watermark across the image then I would prefer to see an embossed transparent type ajdusted to just show.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

The Watermark you display has no real protection value, I could edit that out in 5 mins using CS5

Maybe an opaque watermark right across the image is the way to go - be much harder to remove or post only LOW RES images

Les

 

[Tenorphoto]

is that rainbow colour bit part of it? That looks a bit strange to me, like the image wasn't recorded properly.

Yes that rainbow thing is part of the watermark as it is my logo from my other life so it is kind of a trademark. Thanks for the valuable input, I will play around in PS CS6 but as I say these watermarks are applied by Zenfolio so i think the embossed transparent type will not be an option, one generally has to load a png file which they give one the option of size and location. I could rotate it to display diagonally across the image to discourage unauthorized use but that also discourages viewers.

Lots to think about, mind you if those new copyright laws come into effect it may all be academic at any rate.

 

[grotty]

For your information PNG is the file format to use if you need transparency/tints/etc, so there should be no issue.

 

[meonshore]

In the light of the recent ERRB legislation I think it re-enforces the use of the watermark as a means of identifying the photographer explicitly as well as making it harder for someone to just lift and use (or lift PS out the watermark and use).

So my recommendation would be to lose the fancy script text for some of your watermark, and make some of it very legible - consider adding a website address, or email address to prevent this being easily classed as an orphan work.

Now it depends on you reason for displaying the images, and how concerned you are about commercial use/mis-use.

I'll be making some changes to my standard watermark stamp before I upload my next set of images.

I'd also be concerned about the position of that watermark. You could crop from the top left about 60% right and down and still have main subject and have completely lost the watermark.

 

[18%grey]

I know this is off the subject but I can't help myself.

I think the man in the front of the picture in the yellow shirt and jeans has got to go.

He's spoiling a great image, me thinks it's clone tool time. Just my opinion.