General watermarking guildlines?

[Aijay]

As I am getting more comfortable with my shots, I recently started watermarking them as just to let the viewers know that it's mine regardless of it I didn't post it. It's not that I'm worried about theft at the moment, I just don't want to see my photo show up elsewhere where the watermark has been cut off and someone else takes credit. But on the other hand, I don't want to splash a huge watermark across the middle of the image to where it's distracting. Is there any sort of unwritten rules when it comes to watermarking?

[RGolfJ]

to serve its purpose, it needs to be a little distracting. Mine is one line just below the center of the image. If they are on the web, they will get stolen. I shoot a lot of high school sports for one school district. My images show up everywhere on facebook, but atleast my watermark is there. I don't make a big deal out it because business is good.

[BTBP88]

Has anyone ever used the watermarks on flickr ? I know how to do it for a single photo but wonder if there is a way to put it on all the photos at once . Any help is appreciated.

[amfoto1]

I only post lower resolution images online, so am not too worried about them being stolen and used in minor "sharing" ways, which is what's most common by far.

I now watermark with the main intention being to advertise... If someone trims it off, they are adding to their copyright infringement by deliberately circumventing copyright ownership protections, so if push ever comes to shove with someone doing that, I'll have one helluva case and stand to make a lot of extra money! ;)

My watermarks are along the bottom of the image (approx. the bottom 1/8 of the space), not across the center. Big enought to read easily. I don't want to obstruct the viewing of the image in any way and usually there aren't important points of interest down near the lower edge of an impage.

I've been using the word "copyright" in my watermark, but am thinking about dropping it. It's not necessary to protect your ownership. Your watermark can actually say anything... I mostly just want "stolen" images posted on Facebook or whatever to drive more traffic to my galleries, generate email contacts and/or make the phone ring.

[torvaterra]

Watermarking is something that I struggle with as well. I have had images stolen, but Ive also had a lot of complaints about how distracting the marks are. So it becomes a delicate balance. Im at the point where Im evolving my watermark to become something of a signature. Its still distracting and obtrusive, so Im not 100% happy with it yet. Could lighten it, could move it.

In the end, I start to think that the best way to watermark is to have a mark with your business name or logo in it, that cannot be easily cropped out. That way, the image if it is stolen can lead back to you. If it just says (c) or copyright, that means someone owns it but it doesnt say who. Like a book with no author. Also, if the watermark doesnt cover over the picture, then it can more easily be cropped. But if it does cover the image, its an eyesore. If its too light, it can be cloned out. To dark and it becomes more of a focal point than the subject... I think you see where I go back and forth.

I guess it just all depends what you are comfortable with. I think that if a customer wants to buy your image, they will buy it regardless of the mark.

Heres where Im at with mine. Again, still a work in progress!

http://torvaterra.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p807533896-3.jpg

http://torvaterra.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p1013149436-3.jpg

[Floriantrojer.com]

I agree they have to be a bit distracting to serve a purpose!

Here's an example. 900 pix photo, trying to clone it out would only result in screwing up the image, because there is too much detail.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4200211649_d3149a5050_o.jpg

Having the own website URL as watermark is particularly good because

a.) if it is stolen despite the watermark, people know how to report it to you, and

b.) if someone sees your photo and wants to purchase it, he'll be guided to your website straight away.

[aroundlsu]

If you are going to watermark each and every photo as many photographers here and elsewhere do I would suggest spending some money to get a professional graphic designer to create something for you. 90% of the watermarks I see are so badly designed (mainly poor choice of fonts) that they do more harm by helping the photographer look amateur.

I usually only watermark images I am trying to sell to large groups on my website. In that case I make the watermark huge and right in the middle of the image at about 75% opacity with absolutely no attempt at design. Under the watermark I print "Watermark Removed After Purchase." I am mainly trying to discourage them from ripping the image and printing it themselves.

Here is how I do it when trying to sell to groups:

http://teddysmith.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=_n1s5582_6&file=_n1s5582_medium.jpg

[meekerphoto]

I like to put my logo in the center towards the bottom at a low opacity. I really don't like to distract from the photo too much and as long as it is up high enough that can not be cropped off easily I think it is doing it's purpose.

[RGolfJ]

professional graphic designer for a watermark??

[aroundlsu]

professional graphic designer for a watermark??

With many of the watermarks I have seen on this board I would have to say yes, professional graphic designer indeed. If you value the image of your company anyway.

[Mark1]

With many of the watermarks I have seen on this board I would have to say yes, professional graphic designer indeed. If you value the image of your company anyway.


I half agree. If you are going to do anything more than a basic font watermark.

There is nothing wrong with useing your logo as a watermark. A lot of logos are professionally designed.