Watermarks?

[AcadieLibre]

I have noticed more and more of those who post here using water marks, just curious as to why? And also why so big? What do you think the watermark accomplishes? I am actually curious. And when you did decide to go with a water mark what inspired the design and did you do it or have someone design it for you, and have you ever asked people outside your family or friends what they think of them.

[Gem]

I use a watermark mostly to differentiate between my photography shots and just fun, spur of the moment shots; haha, and I like to think it offers some protection. Basically, I'll have three copies of the picture: the original, an edited version, then the edited version with a watermark.

Everything that gets posted here is without the watermark because I know that some people find it annoying when critiquing the photo. I don't really have a "design," just the copyright sign followed by my name. That's about it. I also try not to make it huge (it usually ends up distracting me ). And I've never asked people what they think of it since it isn't fancy or anything of the sort.

I've heard you can put like an invisible code on the pictures so that if someone steals it, you can prove it's yours. If I knew how to do that, I probably wouldn't use a watermark (not that any of mine are worth stealing ... yet ).

[Iguanasan]

I started putting it on recently because I've heard from a lot of photographers on the web that you need to protect your shots and this is one way of accomplishing that. Picasa, for me, made it easy because it will stamp it as it goes out the door so I thought I'd try it out.

I do, however, find it kind of distracting, even on my own and I think mine is pretty small. I'll probably flip the other way and not bother with one as, frankly, I'm not sure that it makes a difference with respect to having people steal your shots.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm confused too!

[jjeling]

AL, I'm glad you said something. I was pondering this same thought to myself as to whether or not it makes any difference. In my thoughts, its not going to stop anyone from downloading a file. As we all know, with a little handy work you can make them go away. My basis is the same as it is for facebook, marketing. As much as I hate to say it, if your trying to make an income from this, its 80% marketing, 10% skill, 10% right place/right time. I figure that has been roughly the general consensus. The market here is big enough that if I give my business name, it will be better than giving out my name. Its easier for most people to remember. I hate putting on my work, so I just place it on a 800x??? pixelated/desaturated POS, web version, never a full image. I wouldnt normally put them on a forum like this, but, that would require another file or moretime I just do not want to deal with. So, in the end, we all suffer the consequences of spending so much time trying to get an image perfect, and we show it off by placing an ugly watermark on a degraded image up on a forum. hoorah right? Well, it has worked for me and people have taken some of my images more seriously. ????? Dont ask why, they see a watermark on a picture and it changes their attitude about your work.
I wanted to keep it short but....it wasn't.

[Marko]

For me I certainly don't mind watermarks of any kind if it makes a photographer feel more secure. It does detract from the photo in many cases though.... as always it's a personal compromise.

[F8&Bthere]

Despite being brand new around here, I'm going to be a bit of a bull in a china shop. I think there's part vanity, part folly, and part paranoia present, at least to some degree, and in some cases just outright poor taste, in some of the obnoxious copyrights/watermarks I've seen on images. No, not this forum of course- I've been to many others.

Just the thought of joe hobbyist (describes me as well) losing out on big buck opportunities for that photo of their cat on the sofa because they didn't lay obvious claim to the image makes me chuckle. Especially since it was probably never intended to be posted to anything more than a critique forum at reduced size and resolution. Oooo just imagine the potential fortune that those despicable stock photo thieves could steal from your pockets with that 680 x 480 70% full quality jpeg, lol.

Tastefully framing and/or adding a small title, name, website, date, etc on the perimeter is fine. But the worst, aesthetically ruining their image in the process, are the bold watermarks in huge nasty font across a good portion of the photo.... just my opinion

[jellotranz]

Alot of photographers get really really upset when they see a picture of thiers on another site obviously without thier permission. Been there, had lots of sleepless nights over the whole thing... Oh and I hate watermarks. Thats just my opinion. They don't really help where its important and they ruin the viewing of the photo for other people, which is why I assume we all put our photo's out on the web.

This topic actually came up the other day on another site I am on, and I wrote kind of my take on the whole thing as I have images stolen all the time. If any of you are bored, can't sleep etc.. here it is..

http://www.deviantdonkey.info/v1/blo...3/image-theft/