Watermarking Images

[echnidna]

How do I watermark images to help protect copyright.

[BobR]

The watermark is inserted by a piece of software that is normally purchased separately to your image management software. I am not aware of any free software that performs this task. The popular one that works with Photoshop is Digimarc. The watermark management component is under Filters in Photoshop. However, you need to register (read pay dollars) with Digimark to use it.

Bob

[Grunt]

Bob,

You could try this. http://www.hotworldcustoms.com/watermarkingpics.htm

Grunt

[echnidna]

Thanks Grunt looks interesting.

[Honest Gaza]

Without knowing what application you are using.....is it possible to import the final picture into Word. If so, you can create a watermark using "wordart" and then adjusting the contrast of the "wordart" image....leaving your picture in normal contrast.

[Termite]

Word also has a watermark feature, look under Word Help and it will tell you how to do it.

[Sprog]

How do I watermark images to help protect copyright.

Stenography is a topical subject, programs that can hide data in pictures and sound files.

For a demo program go to
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/books/mos2/zebras.html

Also try a Google search for Stenography and Stenography software for more examples

Google search

[echnidna]

Sprog, The stenography approach is unsuitable as I wish to protect online plus hard copy catalogue images.

Termite & Honest Gaza, I use open office so word functions are not practical for me to use.

[jow104]

How do I watermark images to help protect copyright.

Bob how about putting a wet glass down on the picture

[DavidG]

echnidna
What graphics software do you have?

The attached was done in Corel Photo Paint.

Simply Type on the picture, tilt the text and then make it about 25% transparency. ie Nearly see through.
Save it as JPG and use.

Dave..

[Sprog]

echnidna

Simply Type on the picture, tilt the text and then make it about 25% transparency. ie Nearly see through.
Save it as JPG and use.

Dave..

Then someone comes along and removes the additions just as easily
Left part of the text there just to demonstrate.

[Grunt]

Gimp from www.gimp.org is a free full featured Image Manipulation program like Photoshop or Photopaint.

[jackruss]

The only way to protect an image from being reused is to make it unusable in the first place.

Most professional photographers just stamp their name and / or website diagonally across the image, this way if it is reused their branding is across the image or make a low res image that is only useable on screen. Even this doesn't work as I have seen many screen res images printed in 4 col and they looked like awful.

Any form of electronic tagging (digimarc et al), within the file data is only useful if someone cares about your copyright.

In the real world, if the image is reused and you don't give permission, there is such a long and expensive process to prove ownship that the only people that make money are the lawyers.

So in a nut shell, you can put copyright lines and data where ever you like , if it gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling, but once and image is out there, you are nearly powerless to protect it.

JR

[echnidna]

I realise JR, that Copyright only gives you a stick to wave at a thief.
However without copyright the big corporations would just take what they like.

[Lucas]

I use to shot wedding professionally and it was getting harder and harder to protect your images
at the end of the day if the person wanted the negs because they paid for the shoot they in reality owned the negitives (new copyright laws) government didnt see a wedding photographer as a professional

suppose i dont see them as human