Watermarks

I don't know. I think its good if people want to put a watermark but the majority of which I've seen are terrible. I don't think they are a good idea but they definitely need to be applied properly. Instead of watermarking my images I just put up lower versions of them on the web.
 
Hate them, especially when they're slapped right across the middle of an image!
 
I used to, but then realised I do this as a hobby, not to make money.As such, I very rarely bother anymore, though I can see the reasoning for the pro`s doing it.
 
I'm an amateur, and I do it. I *try* to integrate the watermark with the image as much as possible, and I never think they look too intrusive, but I suppose it's a matter of opinion.

I don't do it to prevent theft though, I do it to advertise.
 
:agree: I put my website on the bottom of everything I upload, just incase anyone feels they want my image on their site etc, least I get the advertising back for it. Mine are just small in the bottom right.

Can't see the point in plastering it right across the middle though, just ruins the image IMO
 
mattyh said:
I put my website on the bottom of everything I upload, just incase anyone feels they want my image on their site etc, least I get the advertising back for it. Mine are just small in the bottom right.

Can't see the point in plastering it right across the middle though, just ruins the image IMO
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With you totally, I'm not watermarking for watermarking's sake, nor am I really concerned about image theft, it's just about getting my name out there.

This is mine, I'd say it wasn't intrusive:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj201/vapourtrailphotography/Toxic Angel - Sailor Girl/TA.jpg
 
I tend to water mark images as i wouldnt like someone to steal my photographs without permission as there seems to be alot of this happening nowdays. I also embed the photograph with my info in cs3 just to be on the safe side.
I suppose it really depends on weather you want to be safe with your images. Resizing the image is also a good idea but ive never really used that method before.

I think i produce nice images and would not like anyone to steal them. If they want the original they there is no harm in asking.
 
If I'd want to be serious about protecting my copyrights to my images I would add the copyright message as a caption outside of the image, and embed it invisibly in the image using steganography.
 
Alfred D. said:
If I'd want to be serious about protecting my copyrights to my images I would add the copyright message as a caption outside of the image, and embed it invisibly in the image using steganography.
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How does one do steganography? Does it require a special application or a paid for service?

At the end of the day there is nothing really to stop anyone from taking a photo... e.g. all someone as to do is to press PRINT SCREEN and then crop the screen capture, etc
 
Until recently I never watermarked my images however I've now found out the hard way that it's necessary if you want to try & prevent (or at least deter) some of the more dishonest members of the WWW.

I'd agree it does tend to spoil the web viewing experience but it seems a necessary evil, I always find it's possible to get the "feel" of other posters images even with a watermark.

simon
 
Watermarks that sit on the centre of an image are horrible. Worse is when the photographer tries to make some kind of artistic statement with the watermark, by using loud colours or some horrible italic scripty font. That's ruining an image.

Personally I use watermarks on my images because lots get remote linked (as I've said before, this is down to their subject matter, not because they're technically brilliant photos!!), and for me it's advertising in return for the lost WSP bandwidth. It means if someone likes an image, they can come and see it, and others, in their proper context.

In view of my first point here, my watermarks are size 8 Arial, tucked away in the bottom right hand corner. Discreet, and I like to think, quite neat and tidy.

Theft I'm not bothered about. Newspapers will and have, in my case, taken images, cut off the watermark and printed them. The solution for me was to invoice and receive payment. So if someone wants to do this, fine, do it. It's sales after-all, so I don't care. This is why I'm not into all this fretting about including copyright details in EXIF or any of that. People are welcome to swipe my images, providing they're prepared for an invoice.
 
I hate watermarks... but do use them on my site.

Apart from the obvious theft of small and low res images stolen for web use which is of little concern in the long run (or possibly Not ;) )... for me, its more about protecting and backing up the customers that have paid real money for a photograph. (Not via the site mind you)

From what I can tell my customers like the fact others cant steal the same image form my site.
We know they're too small and useless for any real use, but they don't know, and there not concerned or interested in those particular printing details anyway, they do however understand the simple security detail which protects there image from being copied without payment.

They like that reason from all I can tell, who wouldn't!
 
I always do now, AND i know how easy it is to take them out in photoshop but i only put them there to show they are mine really.

Tony
 
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