More than likely you’ve encountered a photograph on the web that has been marked with a special symbol, logo or text. This technique of protecting an image from theft is called watermarking and its no longer only used for professional photographers. If you host your images on the Internet (especially on popular photo sharing sites like Photobucket, Flickr or Facebook) you are running the risk of having your images stolen. So grab a cup of coffee and read on. After all, you’ve worked hard to create product images that sell your business. Make sure the success earned is yours alone.
What is a watermark?
A watermark is a faint logo, symbol or word superimposed over the top of a digital photo.
What is the Purpose of a Watermark?
A watermark is used to show that a particular image is copyrighted, and it may not be copied or used elsewhere without the permission of the original owner. With an approximate 78% (http://www.visualwatermark.com/blog/2011/07/01/your-photos-are-stolen/) of photos on the Internet being stolen, it’s a great idea to add one to your business images.
More than likely you’ve encountered a photograph on the web that has been marked with a special symbol, logo or text. This technique of protecting an image from theft is called watermarking and its no longer only used for professional photographers. If you host your images on the Internet (especially on popular photo sharing sites like Photobucket, Flickr or Facebook) you are running the risk of having your images stolen. So grab a cup of coffee and read on. After all, you’ve worked hard to create product images that sell your business. Make sure the success earned is yours alone.
What is a watermark?
A watermark is a faint logo, symbol or word superimposed over the top of a digital photo.
What is the Purpose of a Watermark?
A watermark is used to show that a particular image is copyrighted, and it may not be copied or used elsewhere without the permission of the original owner. With an approximate 78% of photos on the Internet being stolen, it’s a great idea to add one to your business images.
- Keep your watermark easy to read. Using a white or black only colour scheme will allow for a clear read without distracting from the image itself.
- Include a copyright symbol in the watermark. That way there’s no question that others cannot copy the image without your permission. In word processing software, the copyright symbol usually is available using the Insert menu and the Symbol command.
- The watermark should be placed carefully so as not to detract from the image too much, but you also don’t want to place the watermark in a area of solid color or a textured area where removal would be easy to conceal.
- A watermark can also be used as a form of advertising. Be sure to add your website address subtly to the watermark as well. If the viewer loves your photo, it will also lead them to your online site to view more of your products. Think of watermarking as an opportunity to increase traffic to your website.
The following programs are free and easy to use. Some are great for multiple image watermarking. Others allow for paid upgrades.www.watermark.ws
www.uconomix.com
www.watermark-image.com
www.fotoflexer.com is also a free and amazing online image editing program. While it will help you manually add your watermark to your images, this program will also allow you to add special effects, touch ups, fonts, shapes, doodling, distortions and layers.
- Load website in your browser
- Look a top right corner and click “upload photo” button
- Find the watermark file you want to use on your computer – click upload
- At top of menu hit the “layers” tab
- Within the layers button at the top of your window is a button that says “Add image”, click that button.
- Then click “edit from my computer” OR on side left bar you can upload directly from photobucket and Flickr
- Once your photo is loaded you will see both the watermark and the photo, there are two button at the top menu that say “push back” or “pull forward”. Select the watermark image and “pull forward”
- Using your mouse move the watermark over your photo (you can also use your mouse to click on the photo and scale it down if needed)
- When everything looks good, using your mouse select both images and then hit the “merge” button at the top
- At the top navigation bar you will see the “save” button – save it to your computer
- Repeat for each photo
You’ve worked hard to create product images that sell your business and enhance your brand. Now be sure to protect these fabulous selling tools with a watermark. It is a simple and easy way to ensure that your photos remain your very own.
