How do you protect your photos?

[Mike6158]

I've been wondering something. I put a lot of my photos on a paid web based photo storage and viewing site. It makes it easy for me link to them so that I don't have to upload a photo to sites like this one without the download time or load on the server that I am uploading to. Presently I have the "thumbnail size set to 800 x 800 and I do not allow access to the original (unless the file isn't mine. For instant, animated GIFS).

Is 800 x 800 useful to anyone? I guess web based sites could make use of it but I'm not so sure that, from a printing perspective, 800 x 800 is "sellable".

Without adding a watermark... is there any way to protect a photo from being stolen?

Some day I may actually have to worry about that :D

[symes]

Without adding a watermark... is there any way to protect a photo from being stolen?

Some day I may actually have to worry about that :D

NO, that's the short answer...there was a thread on this not too long ago...as long as your browser loads the photo it can be stolen...that's the bottom line...


800 X 800 is not really useable anyway...

Cheers,

[RockSlut]

I publish @ 640x427 saved for web out of habit (with my p&s I used to publish @ 640x480). I find it big enough to appreciate the image without being big enough to misuse other than published on the net. With file sizes generally under 60kb there is not too much that can be done with the file.

I also add a watermark which really only serves to make my work a little more annoying to misuse and hoprefully just enough to make the person move on to some other photographer's work.

[primoz]

Unfortunately 800x800 is more then enough if someone really wants photo. Newspapers can use it, if there's nothing else in better quality, people can print it, and for most of them quality which will come out of it, will be good enough. You have to count, that most of people don't look photos with magnifying glass, and for 10x15 or 13x18cm photo 800x800 is big enough. It's far from perfect, but most of people don't search for perfect photos anyway. Hell... they wouldn't even see difference between crapy one and perfect one.

[PhotosGuy]

Yeah, I try too keep tham as small & crappy as possible. Wierd crops help make them hard to print, too. Other than that, there's not much that you can do 'cause they can always use the Prt Scr button to capture them.
This one is 28KB.
;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Samples%20-%20Rides/53-Ford_Sunliner_side_05.jpg

[superdiver]

How do you go about "copywriting" a photo? Or can you?

[PhotosGuy]

It's done in an image editor. Several threads here have them showing. You can also put it in the "File Info" with PS.

[SWPhotoImaging]

Without adding a watermark... is there any way to protect a photo from being stolen?



I put all of mine in mayonaise jars and bury them in the back yard . . .

:lol:

[RockSlut]

How do you go about "copywriting" a photo? Or can you?

US photographers can register them with the Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/).

[tim]

I put up images at 500px wide, from 800px you could make a 6x4 that some people would print. I also watermark images some times, especially if they're higher resolution. If it can be stolen, it will be, the aim is just to make it easier to buy the prints.

[PhotosGuy]

US photographers can register them with the Copyright Office. True, but it's copyrighted the second you take it. Registration is done with the patent office.

COPYRIGHT:
You can put all your small jpegs on a CD & copyright them as a group for only $30 in the US. Then you're in for big $s if someone uses them without permission which gives you a "big stick" if you tell someone to remove them.

Copyrighting Your Images and Deterring Image Theft
http://www.rickbakerimages.com/photography_advice/copyrighting_your_images.html

http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter9/index.html

10 Big Myths about copyright explained
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

A compendium of resources on copyright - Editorial photographers links
http://www.editorialphoto.com/copyright/

[RockSlut]

True, but it's copyrighted the second you take it. Registration is done with the patent office.


Thanks. On reflection I was probably a little flippant with my response there!

[tjburns]

thanks for the links

[minime9us]

ive tried to add a watermark but when i print the photo i dont see the (c) copyright info. Is that supposed to show on the photo?

[Mike Panic]

www.copyright.gov is the official site

as for useage? sure, 800x800 is plenty usefull to someone doing web design or web graphics or banner ads...

the real point is, if you put it on the web, someone will, w/out fail, right click and save as, and / or use it somewhere you don't want it

[PhotosGuy]

ive tried to add a watermark but when i print the photo i dont see the (c) copyright info. Is that supposed to show on the photo? You'll need to use a Type or Text tool for that. Simply, click in the picture & type. See "Help" for details.

[Mike6158]

You'll need to use a Type or Text tool for that. Simply, click in the picture & type. See "Help" for details.

Is there some way to make the signature "reusable"? Save it and then automate it somehow?

In CSII

[PhotosGuy]

Just drag the layer to a new pic. I'm not sure the best way to automate it to get proper placement.

[Mike6158]

Ack... so tell me... is the complexity of the answer inversely proportional to the stupidity of the question? That's just too easy... can't you add 5 steps to the process? :D

Thanks....

[PhotosGuy]

Sure! You could spend an hour making an Action & trying to tweak it, but it's just easier to drag the layer in. ;)
When you have some type in a layer, be sure to check out the "Layer Styles" icon (f) at the bottom of the Layer Palette, too.

[FotoChica46]

I'm pretty much new at this and I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for but there is a way in photoshop to make your signature (or anything else, for that matter) into a brush. Thus you can resize it, change the color, etc. Once the brush is created, it stays there and all you have to do is click once and there you have your signature. If you want to know more details let me know. I've only done it twice so I'll have to go back in and figure it out, step by step. Ok, hope this helps.

~CW

[Mike6158]

I'm pretty much new at this and I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for but there is a way in photoshop to make your signature (or anything else, for that matter) into a brush. Thus you can resize it, change the color, etc. Once the brush is created, it stays there and all you have to do is click once and there you have your signature. If you want to know more details let me know. I've only done it twice so I'll have to go back in and figure it out, step by step. Ok, hope this helps.

~CW

That would be perfect. If you could give me a step by step that would be great. Thanks a bunch!

[FotoChica46]

I've got class in the morning so I need to head to bed but I'll put it up sometime tomorrow!!! Glad it's what you're looking for!

~CW

[Mike6158]

Ok... thanks again

[BruceC]

I do three things.

1.width no more then 700, height no more then about 500
2.flash web site. So no simple right clicks.
3.small watermark on image.

So one would have to do the print screen thing, then PS out the little watermark, and after all that, all they have is a small amateurish picture.

[FotoChica46]

It's pretty simple really, I just couldn't remember off hand last night. Scan your signature or logo or something and save it to your computer. Open it up in photoshop and select the portion of the picture that you want to make into a brush. Go to Edit>Define Brush. Name it as whatever you want. Then select the brush tool. You should be good to go. Edit the color and size as you would a normal brush. Click once to just put your signature in. If you draw w/ it like a regular brush it will look weird. :-) Sorry it took so long!

~CW

[BruceC]

I just use Fast Stone for batching my watermarkes and resizing.

[Mike6158]

It's pretty simple really, I just couldn't remember off hand last night. Scan your signature or logo or something and save it to your computer. Open it up in photoshop and select the portion of the picture that you want to make into a brush. Go to Edit>Define Brush. Name it as whatever you want. Then select the brush tool. You should be good to go. Edit the color and size as you would a normal brush. Click once to just put your signature in. If you draw w/ it like a regular brush it will look weird. :-) Sorry it took so long!

~CW Cool. Thanks. I'll give that a whirl

[FotoChica46]

No problem... Hope it works!

~CW

[Yexal]

Comparison table of protection digital images methods:
http://watermarker.com/how-to-ptotect-digital-images.aspx

[NickSimcheck]

Usually I make them wear a chastity belt and I sit on the front porch at night with my shot-gun.

[Bobster]

I do three things.

1.width no more then 700, height no more then about 500
2.flash web site. So no simple right clicks.
3.small watermark on image.

So one would have to do the print screen thing, then PS out the little watermark, and after all that, all they have is a small amateurish picture.
700x500 on an inkjet will give you a pretty decent print @ 10x8 (my father prints my pbase stuff off all the time of the kids - 800x533)