Watermarks

Paul870

Paul870

Messages
139
Edit My Images
Yes
As I am photographing more, I tend to enjoy scoping my local R/C track.. now my question is in two halves!

If I wish to publish my photographs say on here, or another website would I need to have a watermark on my images to help prevent people using them who I dont want to, or at least so I can have some credit for the work?

Are they frowned upon on this forum? Reason being if I post photographs on here of something i'm proud of, i'd rarther not have to make a second set and re use the first one which i've watermarked.

Thought i'd ask before I go posting anything, a main reason being I have a friend who runs one of the biggest R/C forums and constantly struggles with companys big and small using his work without permission, something I'd want to avoid too!
 
Not at all frowned upon Paul on TP.

Some do some don't. The 800pix rule is a fairly good deterrent at anybody stealing images to make large prints. I do put them on my pictures because not only to I want to deter theft, but also because it acts as a good marketing tool (not that I am selling my work but I do like the idea of having a 'brand').

In essence yes IMO you should have a watermark if you have identified a risk of theft - but make sure you get the balance right in your images between protection, and detracting from the impact of the image because the watermark is so prominent.
 
I always use a watermark on my images, for the reasons smooth said. If you use Lightroom 3 you can set it up such that it automatically applies your watermark to your photos. Just make sure they're unobtrusive but it's obvious that they're there. Mine is translucent and in the bottom left corner of my images :)
 
Thank you for the advice! I wouldnt mind if people used them, i'd be flattered ( for a while!) but I thought i'd put the question across really!

Would something like this suffice?

1799.jpg


I dont have a weblink at the moment, nor a brand name of sorts :thinking:

I've learnt how to program an 'action' in to CS2 so it'l pop up automatically on the press of a button.
 
Only you can answer if it will suffice ie does it cover enough of image/prominent enough etc etc.

I would be tempted to keep it as you have here - subtle but enough for people to know who took it :)
 
Thats the idea I was going for, thank you for confirming it is 'ok'! once again great advice and friendly people :)
 
There are two types of watermarking - either you want to stick your name on something just for the sake of it, and if it goes astray it isn't the end of the world. For that type, the watermark up page is fine. But if it is to prevent it being used without permission, that one is utterly useless as it could be cropped. In that shot needs to be across the car, really.

Obviously all can be removed with time and effort, but you need to at least make it hard for the person stealing it.
 
Agree with Scott, Paul and Andrew....that watermark could easily be cropped put. Perosnally I'd go with Andrew's suggestion for this shot; put the watermark right across the car.

Reduce the opacity a bit so its not quite as intrusive and slap it across the car, that should act as a good enough deterrent to any prospective photo-thief. It would take some time to remove it, and unless they are very proficient in the use of Photoshop, they will more than likely make a mess of it :D

If people like the image enough they will 'see' past the watermark and purchase it.
 
Actually it is very easy to remove a watermark from a photo.:)
 
Imdeedy. It all depends what the OP wants to use the watermark for. If it is a 'tog tag' then the one above is cool, but as stated if it is needed for serious anti theft then look at making it more prominent.

The other way is to make sure you always keep your pics as small as possible when posting online as the resolution will inhibit getting it printed :)
 
Some of my images are heavily watermarked (especially the ones I have for sale on stock sites) and others lightly watermarked. I know people use images they "find" on the web for their own purposes and see no reason to make it easy for them :)

Some members here do complain about watermarks but it is totally up to the photographer to choose what and how they deal with their own photographs
 
RevOnline said:
True, but somewhere prominent requires a thief to do an extremely good job of it, which is a lot slower if not necessarily harder.
Click to expand...

I put a big watermark on one of my motorsport photos & a friend of mine removed it in 5 minutes.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top