To watermark or not: In case you have been considering this question you may want to hear about this. In the process of creating a new website I started to google some names to see...

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

In case you have been considering this question you may want to hear about this. In the process of creating a new website I started to google some names to see where they lead. At first I was pleased that my old website, and all social media sites came out on top with the adjusted version of my name. My name is pretty common so I need to tweak it a bit to make it unique. On the Google search page I came to a site that had my name, and it linked directly to Picimon.com, which brought up my Instagram page with statistics on engagements, comments, etc. That seemed pretty good. Then I realized that the site allows downloading images. When you try to download from Instagram, you get a WEBLOC file. Now maybe it is possible to unlock that but it would take some additional effort. The Picimon.com site allows you to easily click and drag any image to your desktop. I typically watermark across the bottom of my images, but am not perfectly disciplined about that . I am going to rethink this.

Let me know if you are familiar with Picimon.com

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Set-up a LR Export preset that implements a watermark. Set-up separate Export Presets for each / every type of sharing, using unique export target folders. Upload / share images only from these purpose-specific folders, that is one for Instagram, one for Facebook, one for UHH, and so forth. Invest 'thought' in the set-up and then you don't have to 'think' each time you want to quickly create an image for sharing based on all the appropriate resolution, quality, and watermark settings.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

John Howard wrote:

In case you have been considering this question yo... (show quote)

If someone wants to steal your images, watermarks are not that difficult to remove, especially with the content aware fill.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I'm on two websites that claim one cannot download an image without a huge watermark across the image. However, when my church was choosing images to print for their foyer, one of the fellows downloaded several of my images from one of those websites WITHOUT a watermark! I guess nothing is totally safe! I also had a painter take a photograph of one of my framed images hanging for sale and copy it (and offered it for sale as an original). Any time one's work is in public, it's open to theft.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

CHG_CANON wrote:

Set-up a LR Export preset that implements a watermark. Set-up separate Export Presets for each / every type of sharing, using unique export target folders. Upload / share images only from these purpose-specific folders, that is one for Instagram, one for Facebook, one for UHH, and so forth. Invest 'thought' in the set-up and then you don't have to 'think' each time you want to quickly create an image for sharing based on all the appropriate resolution, quality, and watermark settings.

If you use the site that allows downloading placing a watermark across the bottom is really useless. Trivial PS can remove the watermark faster than it takes for you to upload the photo. Simple fact of life. You either post a lower resolution file so it's not worth stealing or you put an opaque watermark through the middle. In either of those cases the visual quality is probably less than than you want. If concerned find a site that does not allow download.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Watermarking is like locking your house while you are away. It will keep the honest people out. Photoshop and 5 minutes will destroy most watermarks. Better to post 72 res, and small files.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I take a 2 prong approach. For social media I watermark AND reduce to a thumbnail, <=100KB. I still have folks using my photos for promotions of events. I inform them that it is a copyright violation. As previously stated, watermarks only stop honest (and informed) people. Many don't even stop to think about copyrights.

On my website, I put high res watermarked copies.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

John Howard wrote:

In case you have been considering this question yo... (show quote)

Don't put large files up, only thumbnails until someone makes a purchase if that is your goal.

Grau

To keep those right-clickers from downloading, use a short javascript code on your site that does not allow right-clicking. There are work-arounds for that as well but it might discourage some. Another approach that worked well for me (years ago) was to use a transparent gif and layer it on top of the image so that when it was downloaded there would appear to be nothing there! Just at thought....

Syed ahmed

John Howard wrote:

In case you have been considering this question yo... (show quote)

Syed ahmed

No

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

I watermark mine pretty much in the middle of whatever my subject is that I put on social media. Doesn't mean that it will help by any means if someone really wants to steal it. I also resize it so that a print made from it probably won't look too good.

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

I firmly believe that there is way too much paranoia about copy rights and watermarks among photographers. In my humble opinion, having your camera stolen is far more likely than getting your photo lifted. I know what you are thinking. His photos must be mediocre right? Maybe they are to some, after all I am not a professional. However, I did manage to win a handful of contests, got a few OOHS and AAHS, and even sold some copies. But unless my "masterpieces" sell like hotcakes, putting watermarks on them only make them look bad.

Besides, those who actually do steal photos also know how to remove the ugly watermarks.

JoeJoe

FotoHog wrote:

I firmly believe that there is way too much parano... (show quote)

I've had one stolen on here and then posted back on here in someone else's work claiming they have a right to my work under US law only last week. The image was removed by Admin.... I no longer feel safe uploading Full Images and am contemplating either not posting here anymore or posting 72 res as advised by others on here....

Regards
Joe

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

JoeJoe wrote:

I've had one stolen on here and then posted back on here in someone else's work claiming they have a right to my work under US law only last week. The image was removed by Admin.... I no longer feel safe uploading Full Images and am contemplating either not posting here anymore or posting 72 res as advised by others on here....

Regards
Joe

Joe, this '72 res' idea is a nice sentiment, but technically inaccurate. For a detailed technical discussion of the actual technology options, consider this post: Recommended resizing parameters for digital images

You might consider too using a more secure site to then use an HTML link for the presentation of images onto this site.