Do you place your name on your posted photos ?
Jun 4, 2014 13:18:04 #
When I export photos from Lightroom, it gives me an option to place a "watermark" on the exported jpg. I have been using this option to place my name at the bottom of my photos with a (c) and the year. I recently received some feedback suggesting that this practice is inappropriate or at least not very useful since people could just crop the name off the bottom if they wanted to and that I am simply ruining good photographs. If I place the watermark in the middle of a photo, it really does ruin it. Am I being egotistical by placing my name on my photo?
What are the pros and cons of placing a watermark on exported photos prior to placing them? I think this could be an interesting discussion item.
I am posting an example below. I look forward to your thoughts.
What are the pros and cons of placing a watermark on exported photos prior to placing them? I think this could be an interesting discussion item.
I am posting an example below. I look forward to your thoughts.
Jun 4, 2014 13:39:45 #
In this particular sample, the watermark would be less distracting if it was placed at lower right, in the owl's feathers.
I definitely do not think it inappropriate to place a watermark on photos you put on the web, or even for sharing with people.
When it comes to professional photos though, that you receive money for, I think a rubber stamp on the back of the photo is much better than a watermark on the front.
Some time ago, someone posted a couple of photos on this forum that actually did have his/her name on them but unless you knew where to look, or had very good eyes, you wouldn't see them. It was very well done, the marks were very small, but I think, provided better proof that the image was his/hers because it wasn't obvious, as well, there were 3 or 4 on the same photo.
Maybe one of the "old-timers" on the Hog remembers the photos I mean and can provide a link to them? I did a search but could not find them.
I definitely do not think it inappropriate to place a watermark on photos you put on the web, or even for sharing with people.
When it comes to professional photos though, that you receive money for, I think a rubber stamp on the back of the photo is much better than a watermark on the front.
Some time ago, someone posted a couple of photos on this forum that actually did have his/her name on them but unless you knew where to look, or had very good eyes, you wouldn't see them. It was very well done, the marks were very small, but I think, provided better proof that the image was his/hers because it wasn't obvious, as well, there were 3 or 4 on the same photo.
Maybe one of the "old-timers" on the Hog remembers the photos I mean and can provide a link to them? I did a search but could not find them.
Jun 4, 2014 13:40:47 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
It doesn't bother me. It is your right.
Curl wrote:
When I export photos from Lightroom, it gives me a... (show quote)
Jun 4, 2014 14:36:10 #
Do what you want with your photos...personally I embed my info in the EXIF data...
Jun 4, 2014 15:23:31 #
Morning Star wrote:
In this particular sample, the watermark would be ... (show quote)
The only comment I have about the placement is that it should probably be moved in from the margins a little more, like maybe 20 pixels or so. And keep it in a font/style that can be read. Some use such a fancy style that it can't be easily read. Some software also lets you create it with a certain amount of transparency so you can overlay it on the photo with the photo still showing through.
Jun 4, 2014 15:30:25 #
Is this better? Increased the opacity significantly and moved it over to the right. I think it is far less obtrusive.
Jun 4, 2014 15:31:35 #
Curl wrote:
Is this better? Increased the opacity significantly and moved it over to the right. I think it is far less obtrusive.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jun 4, 2014 15:45:47 #
Curl wrote:
Is this better? Increased the opacity significantly and moved it over to the right. I think it is far less obtrusive.
very nice. It is still there, but not noticeable if you aren't looking for it.
Jun 4, 2014 16:00:53 #
Jun 5, 2014 00:36:02 #
Cdouthitt wrote:
...personally I embed my info in the EXIF data...
EXIF Data can be modified, and copyrights cropped or removed.
Jun 5, 2014 01:00:21 #
My pictures are certainly nowhere near the quality of image posted here, even by the most basic novices. However, I do not post any pictures on-line unless I expect to have them misappropriated (nice word for stolen).
Jun 5, 2014 01:01:38 #
Curl wrote:
...Am I being egotistical by placing my name on my photo?...
No.
Jun 5, 2014 06:35:17 #
If I post anything on the internet, yes, it gets watermarked. And no, it's not egotistical to do so. I save a lot of photos off the internet from diy blogs and such, and I like the watermarks because then after I save them I know where they came from. If someone likes a photo of mine and does the same thing I want them also to know where it came from. Watermarking for me is a form of advertising.
I'm well aware how easy it is to clone it off, and that's not the purpose of why I watermark anyway. Anything I put on the internet has been sharpened like crazy, at 72 ppi, and shrunk down to 600px so I know no one could possibly get a print out of it.
I'm well aware how easy it is to clone it off, and that's not the purpose of why I watermark anyway. Anything I put on the internet has been sharpened like crazy, at 72 ppi, and shrunk down to 600px so I know no one could possibly get a print out of it.
Jun 5, 2014 07:17:17 #
Any photo I place on the web has my watermark on it. For these reasons: advertising, protection, and to hinder theft. I also reduce the resolution and image size. I've recently started putting a signature on any photo I sell instead of signing the mat. I do not let it overwhelm the photo though. To me its no different than signing a painting. Remember "Olen Mills"? 50 years later I still know who took that portrait of me crying my eyes out because they would not let me hold my teddy bear.
Jun 5, 2014 07:29:24 #
Curl wrote:
...Am I being egotistical by placing my name on my photo?...
Tom S. wrote:
No.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
I have two Facebook pages, a personal one and one just for my photography. Photos I put on my personal page are not watermarked. Any "Art" photos which are of sufficient quality that someone might misappropriate I copy into a separate folder, watermark them and then post to my public "Photography" Facebook page.
My personal page is restricted to friends only, so I save them from having to see the watermark, but any photos of commercial value have been "Published" in a public forum with copyright protection to protect me should they be misappropriated.
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