These names that people put on there pictures?

G

gerbstoke

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407
Name
Mart
Edit My Images
Yes
I Often see a few pictures and they have got the picture takers name on them. Some are in the corners and some are splashed right across the middle of the subject. How do you put your name on them and why do people put there names on them? Is it like I have read a few times to stop some bounders from stealing them. If this is the case I have seen photos worse than mine with these signatures on and I don't think people would want to use my pictures for anything so what is the point of ruining an image with writing splashed across the middle?
 
Its called a watermark.
Its aim is to help prevent people claiming images as thiers when they arent, its also an advertising tool.

When you see, shall we say, less than awesome images with a whacking great watermark, its usualy for ego purposes rather than any of the aforementioned reasons.

Most software is able to do it, if you really want to.
 
Simple answer for you then is not to bother about watermarks.

If you do take a photo that you think other folk might like/use then Lightroom has a good watermark section.
 
Most of the urbex images on my website and other places in the internets are watermarked due to the press being in the habit of stealing images and not paying for their usage by declaring that they are running the story in the 'public interest'. Hence if they are stolen then at least I'll get some credit.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Its called a watermark.
Its aim is to help prevent people claiming images as thiers when they arent, its also an advertising tool.

When you see, shall we say, less than awesome images with a whacking great watermark, its usualy for ego purposes rather than any of the aforementioned reasons.

Most software is able to do it, if you really want to.
Click to expand...

Nothing worst than a badly placed, watermark :thumbsdown:
 
I can understand it when you have an image that is meaningful and is likely to be stolen or used without consent.. Like maybe a major world event and you have the only photo..

But a snapshot of your dog in the back garden is a little different.
 
TCR4x4 said:
I can understand it when you have an image that is meaningful and is likely to be stolen or used without consent.. Like maybe a major world event and you have the only photo..

But a snapshot of your dog in the back garden is a little different.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Who knows what story may run in the future and any image could be in demand. Just take a look at stock images that sell everyday. The most mundane shots are usually the ones that keep selling.
 
The only time I have ever used a watermark was when I was sending sample images to clients. When they were deciding on which images they wanted printed. Otherwise, never bother. When I'm viewing other people's images I skip right past any with watermarks. That's how effective they are ;)
 
I started using them after I had a whole album of an event downloaded from Facebook and uploaded to the organisers site without permission or credit. Watermarking doesn't stop someone from stealing images but it at least makes some people think about it and they tend to be more inclined to ask first.

And now I use them as marketing as well - people sometimes download and repost images and at least others know they are mine.

Its a small watermark in the corner, it doesn't detract from the image much and it now goes on every image that I post on the internet.
 
PSILVERMAN said:
Not necessarily. Who knows what story may run in the future and any image could be in demand. Just take a look at stock images that sell everyday. The most mundane shots are usually the ones that keep selling.
Click to expand...

Phil: now that you mentioned that, i am curious to take a look at the stock images that sell everyday. Where can I go to view these?
 
Any magazine that you may care to pick up, newspaper supplements etc, radio/tv mags. The list is endless. Online publications too, newspapers etc. You may want to check out stock image libraries too. :-)
 
I noticed in photoshop you can add a digital watermark, which is embedded into the metadata. It shows your name and email address so they can contact you. Or you can subscribe and you get to track your images.

I gave up on it though. Looked like they were hiding the price on the website.
 
I used to put a small tag in the bottom right hand corner with my email address but found it did detract from certain images so now I've got the Mogrify plug in for Lightroom which lets you add a border/edge on the outside of the image so my email address now goes in there.

Just from uploading photos to my personal facebook page I have had plenty of enquiries from friends and friends of friends :)

Seeing as I normally work on the shoot, edit, burn principle I encourage any of my clients to upload the "specially enhanced" web version of their images to facebook or other online galleries ;)
 
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