Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

Unless its embedded, any visible watermark can be removed by someone accustomed to working at the pixel level if they want to go through the exercise. The advantage of using something like Digmarc is that it invisibly remains with the photo and they keep a record of who the photo is registered to. Best bet is not to upload a full file. Use a reduced size and resolution for the web. The screen can't accommodate a full file anyway and if someone uses a Screen Capture, they will only get a poor reproduction.

RossMet

You know your pumping stations! We used to live there, there was no work for me (computer geek). My daughters are still there. I took over 100 pictures about 2 weeks before the hurricane.

I watermarked them so bold because I want to sell prints of them. To protect them, isn't what WMs are for?

johnniejack Loc: Casper, Wyoming

I realize copyrighting doesn''t help if someone wants to "steal" your work. Copyrighting is sorta like a deadbolt lock on a door next to an open window - and only for honest folks. But, there is a legal and technical element to watermarking regarding COPYRIGHTING. I'll pass it along for those in this blog interested in your inherent rights to your work.

Check these 2 sites: (1) templeton's.com and (2) pacaoffice.,org. and (3) photosecrets.com Templeton's gives you an abundance of info about copyrighting. PACA (Picture Agency Council of America) defines, outlines and presents 10 points on the the legality of copyrighting your work. Photo Secrets flatly states your copyright is in effect the minute you produce a photo, whether you are going to publish or not.

It's your choice whether you rely just on the unprinted law or your visible watermark, of course. This info is just that - good information -- johnniejack

janab

I have been very happy with "Digimarc" They offer many ways and prices.

janab

I totally agree with Elle. I love digimarc and use it within my Photoshop plugins.

RossMet

Thanks johnniejack, I will visit these websites.

architect Loc: Chattanooga

Here are my thoughts. Posting on the Internet in a size that can be copied and used commercially without recognition is not smart. Post only small sizes except where there is protection from copying if you do not want your images to be stolen.

For me, a water mark or signature on an image is distracting from the work of art, unless it is very discrete (as in the paintings from the Renaissance) and does not in any way interfere with the enjoyment of the image.

In any case, it is easy for anyone with Photoshop skills to delete your watermark or signature if they want to steal your photo. I never add one to my images. Steal one of my images for your desktop or website and I would be flattered. Steal it for commercial production... I would be flattered and consider (briefly) litigation until I figure out what my legal costs would be and my potential gain from the litigation?

So my work will not have my watermarks or signatures on the image.
(Question: Did Ansel Adams sign his images ON the image, or on the frames? Any one know?

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

I haven't reviewed the legalize wording in some time but a creative work falls under the copyright laws from the time it's published by it's author..one of the reasons it's important to keep the original file with the metadata info still intact..proof of the who and when. A service like Digimarc can pick up anywhere on the web when a photo is being displayed by the unique coding embedded in the file. Today, it's almost impossible to safeguard an image from being "lifted", one of the reasons for not enabling a full resolution file for display. There is not much recourse for someone using it for personal use. If it's on a webpage, you can have the service take it down. If it's used commercially it's another story and some action or monetary compensation can be sought.

Emblazoning a transparent signature or logo across the photo discourages capturing it but if the point of uploading is to display..it's lost. The people most likely to be offenders will not bother them..it's a tedious job to remove them even if they know how to.

We've been publically displaying for some time..getting about 1000 to 5000 views a week depending on new submits and whether or not a particular image has received some special recognition.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

once again I say thank you