Your signatures on photographs

[kaitlyn2004]

Just wondering about all the signatures/watermarks on the posted photos:

- Did you just choose a font or is it custom?
- Do you have a way to quickly apply it to a bunch of photos? (what if the corner you use doesn't work for that photo?)
- Do you provide RAW/unwatermarked photos to anyone?

[unrlmth]

I made mine in PS.
If you have a smugmug it will do it automatically. You could also make a script in PS to do it quickly.

[ssim]

I have a couple of different watermarks and which one I use depends on the type of photo it is. They are all made the same way. I used the Dr. Brown's branding as a starting point for my photoshop action but took it a bit further with elements in the action that I can tag to include or not, such as the word proof across the middle.I have used my action to watermark a folder of over 500 images where I can just start it and walk away from it.

No one ever gets the RAW image or original JPG out of the camera. I have sold full sized jpg or TIF without watermarks. It all depends on the customer and what they are doing with the image. No magazine is going to buy a watermarked image, for example.

[Frugal]

Never post an unwatermarked photo on the web. You're asking for someone to do a google image search and use it.

- Do you provide RAW/unwatermarked photos to anyone?If you mean do I give clients unwatemarked images on a disc for them to select from - NO!! For images that I post for selection I add the watermark in smugmug and always fix the basics - exposure, contrast, saturation, hue before anyone sees them

[amfoto1]

My watermarks and signatures are several different things.

I set up my watermark in Photoshop and apply it to all my images being posted on the Internet for people to peruse. I use FastStone photo resizer to both reduce the images in size and add the watermark. It batch processes large numbers of files quickly.

My watermark is across the lower portion of the image, semi-transparent and has my URL and email on it, as well as copyright info. It's gray text with white outline, so works on just about any image. It's in a font I use all the time.

My standard print signature is much more subtle. It's added to each and every print I sell and is custom fitted and adjusted to each image according to size, location, color, level of transparency, color fill, etc. I use the same font all the time and treat it in the same way each time (arc, shadow, emboss). I probably could set up an action, but it only takes me seconds any more to add it in PS. If I have a batch of similar prints I'm doing, I might keep one on my desktop without the layers flattened and just drag and drop this signature to each one as I'm working on it. It might need some minor fine tuning for transparency or location on the print. But this is quick and easy.

For my limited edition fine art prints, I also hand sign, title and number each one in pencil, across the bottom and normally covered by the mat.

I never give out RAW files at all.

I do provide unsigned, unwatermarked files (usually JPEGS, sometimes TIFFs depending upon client's preferences) for certained usages where it's not appropriate to sign or watermark: ads, editorial use, client websites.

[TattooedAffliction]

My original signature I put on my photos was my actual signature. I signed a piece of paper with a sharpie marker, scanned it into my computer, and then made the signature into a brush so I could stamp in on my photos. I prefer to add my signature to each image one at a time, so I get the best placement - even if it takes longer.

I think my signature sucks, so now I'm simply going with a font I downloaded, but I still stamp it on my photos one at a time.

I never give out RAW files. I usually don't give unwatermarked photos, unless of course that's what a client wants and pays for. Lately I've been offering a lot of free work so I can get my name out there. I pretty much only shoot night clubs, so I usually offer the first shoot free, so in that case the photos I give out will always have my signature on it.

[CliffordPhotography]

made the signature into a brush so I could stamp in on my photos.

Little more detail on this? If you dont mind.

[darosk]

I use this (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=678219)with CS4. Works great.

[TattooedAffliction]

Little more detail on this? If you dont mind.

It's been a while since I did, so my memory is a little rusty about how I did it.

from what I remember, I think I opened the scanned document in Photoshop, and used the magic wand to select it, copied it, and then opened a new transparent document, pasted it, then made it a brush VIA edit>define brush preset.

[RDKirk]

I do exactly what amphoto1 does.

[kaitlyn2004]

Never post an unwatermarked photo on the web. You're asking for someone to do a google image search and use it.

If you mean do I give clients unwatemarked images on a disc for them to select from - NO!! For images that I post for selection I add the watermark in smugmug and always fix the basics - exposure, contrast, saturation, hue before anyone sees them

The never-posting-without-watermark marks sense, but it also depends where it is.. no?

Looking through various postings, 90% of the are in the bottom right. And that's fine, but if someone wants to take your photo it's not really watermarking enough of your photo and could just be cropped out... no?

[RDKirk]

The never-posting-without-watermark marks sense, but it also depends where it is.. no?

Looking through various postings, 90% of the are in the bottom right. And that's fine, but if someone wants to take your photo it's not really watermarking enough of your photo and could just be cropped out... no?

I have given up the idea of actually trying to prevent a clever and determined theft. As with one's home security, the fact is that a clever and determined thief can break nearly any lock. All we can really do is keep honest people honest.

I watermark images I give to clients for intentional social networking purposes merely as a way of passing my brand name along (the way American auto dealers place their dealership names on the rear panels of the cars they sell). They are not too obtrusive in the image, and, yes, they can be removed if the holder is determined. But most people are glad to keep the brand name on their images.

[Frugal]

I have given up the idea of actually trying to prevent a clever and determined theft.Me too Kaitlyn. Probably more significant on landscapes which I rarely shoot. I make it semi transparent and large enough to be effective on most of my pics. I dislike that ones that are so large that detract from actually seeing the image.