Foto Friday: Preventing Photo Theft
Date: Friday February 8, 2008Posted in: Foto Friday, Photography
After that fiasco last Friday night when I opened another site to see a photo of my baby girl, I promised a session on how to watermark your photos.
(Side note: the woman has apologized profusely, so all is good. If it had been some kind of perv or creeplor, you better believe I would have given the URL and let you guys have at ‘em.)
A few people mentioned using some code that disables the right-click function (I just Googled “disable right-click” and that was one of the sites that came up. Feel free to do your own search). The amazing Mrs. Flinger pointed out that smart people can get past it, but we all know that not everyone who uses the Internet is smart.
*waves*
I will not be implementing the right-click disable (I would probably make my site explode again) but if it is something that you would like to try, there is no harm in it. Just please refrain from emailing me for help because I am clueless. I would likely make your site explode.
I will stick with watermarking. If people do a Google image search and hit one of my photos with a watermark on it, they likely would not want to use it. They will keep searching until they come across one without a watermark on it. One of yours, maybe?
The original photo of Emily sleeping was on a post I did before I wrote about a bunch of photo thievery happening to other bloggers. I had never even considered watermarking before then. I have now added a watermark to the photo of Emily and replaced it.
Let us get on with the lesson, shall we?
I do believe you will need to access to some form of an editing program. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements. If you use a different program and have watermarked your photos, maybe share this information with the others in the comments? That would be awesome.
I did a post on watermarking last fall. I will copy the relevant parts below where applicable, to save you from having to click all over my site. Unless you want to. Then be my guest!
You creating watermarks using layers in a photo editing program such as Photoshop or Elements. It seems straightforward, but I was still having issues. I Googled a bit and found this article on adding watermarks using Elements (which I have). The linked articles are helpful for watermarks consisting of typed words. There are more (and possibly better) articles, so Google away. Google is your friend.
Unless you have odd medical symptoms. Then Dr. Google can strike fear into your heart.
As for graphics, I cannot help you. My buddy Brenda (Secret Agent Josephine) was so kind as to create me my pretty watermark while chatting with her on IM one night. She whipped together four mock-ups in a mere ten minutes. She’s simply amazing. I love her. You should too.
Back to watermarking. For those of you who use Photoshop, it is really simple to apply a watermark.
- Open both your photo and your watermark image.
- Click on your watermark image. Then click on “Select” on the menu. Then click “All”.
- “Edit”, “Copy”.
- Click on your photo image.
- Add a new layer.
- Click “Edit” on the menu. Then click “paste”.
- Then you can play with your opacity, etc., as outlined in the links I gave.
So. That’s it. I would love to walk you though how to make your own watermark, but I cheated by having SAJ create mine. I hope that the links I gave helped. If not? Google away, my friends.
On the photo editing front…
I had a couple of helpful comments and emails from those who are better at it than I. I also had a couple of emails from trolls people who were critical (I NEVER SAID I WAS AN EXPERT) So…I am hereby suspending that portion of Foto Friday until I grow a thicker skin. And until I get better at it. I will stick to my own photos for now.
Sorry guys. I am a chicken. With thin skin. How’s THAT for a visual?
Hope the rest of the post gave you some direction. I do not claim to be an expert, but am just trying to help.
If you do not think I helped? I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
Sigh.
I will leave you instead with a couple of photos of Miss Emily and I as we sat in the window seat and read “buu” (books).
This one is when I was tooting tickling her.
Happy Friday, everyone!
26 Comments
I love Foto Fridays! And you’re way more of an expert than I’ll ever be, so I’m not going to tell you otherwise, since it will not be true.
As always, your baby girl is GORGEOUS!
Jen’s last blog post..Bye Bye Baby
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Comment by Jen on February 8th, 2008 @ 1:34 pmI watermark using picnik.com. It takes less than 5 minutes… you dont need to sign up or own special software so anyone can do it.
Upload your pic.
You will automatically be in the edit tab.
Go to the “create” tab
Add whatever words you want for your watermark .
The default fade is 0%… I fade my letters anywhere between 90%and 99% depending on the pic.
it is easier than it sounds…
also you can edit/watermark pics straight from facebook,flickr,etc
Christina B’s last blog post..A year ago.
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Comment by Christina B on February 8th, 2008 @ 1:38 pmI just started doing this in Photoshop and the editing software that we can use on Flickr! I’ve got a few photos done now. Pretty neat stuff here. But thanks for posting this, I’ve been waiting for this post all week;) No, really.
Randi’s last blog post..Out Of The Mouths Of Babes?
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Comment by Randi on February 8th, 2008 @ 1:44 pmI saved a simple text watermark as a brush. That also cuts down time to just have it a click away.
kirida’s last blog post..what I have going for me
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Comment by kirida on February 8th, 2008 @ 2:15 pmare you going to get thicker skin fast? It’s because of your editing on foto fridays that I even considered anything other than the basics! And they’ve all turned out lovely!
As for today’s post. I was going to ask you about watermarking anyway, since I posted what I believe to be quite a lovely picture today. I don’t have a fancy schmancy photo editing program 
but there seems to be watermarking freeware out there…thanks to the wonderful world of google 
I’m going to try some out tonight and we’ll see how it goes!
daybe’s last blog post..Chasing the sunset
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Comment by daybe on February 8th, 2008 @ 2:29 pmoh, and my kids better be at least half as cute as yours…
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Comment by daybe on February 8th, 2008 @ 2:31 pmHooray for Foto Fridays! If it weren’t for you I’d still think that Auto was the only setting on my camera and all those other pictures were just for fun. (True story I thought that I had to use the one that looks like a mountain only when shooting mountains…)
I’ve been fiddling with watermarking for a few days and it’s great. Any suggestion on a program to create a great watermark in? I’m a little slow when it comes to that kinda thing.
Ashley’s last blog post..Daddy’s Little Girl, Mommy’s Little Princess
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Comment by Ashley on February 8th, 2008 @ 2:39 pmYou are the reason my photos in the UK did.not.totally.suck.
You know that, right?
Seriously, it was a post you did before formally starting Foto Friday where you explained the different settings on the camera (Portrait, ect.) and what they did.
It SAVED me.
You rock.
Loralee’s last blog post..Choosing a head shot
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Comment by Loralee on February 8th, 2008 @ 3:05 pmThanks so much for the lesson…and the heads up. I seriously would not have considered someone wanting to use a picture of one of my kiddos for anything. I mean afterall, why? It’s not their baby!
Appreciate the heads up Angella!
Lisa’s last blog post..Memories….in the corner of my mind.
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Comment by Lisa on February 8th, 2008 @ 3:13 pmi don’t think any of my photos are worthy of being stolen. ahah.
i heart that kid. she’s so cute!
ali’s last blog post..re-je-cted rejected!
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Comment by ali on February 8th, 2008 @ 3:25 pmI totally never thought that someone would steal a photo of your children… what with all the other amazing pictures you post.
It’s got me thinking. My pictures are not worthy in my opinion but I guess you just never know.
I want to start watermarking but don’t have Photoshop. I am going to use Christina’s advice above. It sounds easier for internet illiterates like myself
Kami’s last blog post..Don’t hate me!
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Comment by Kami on February 8th, 2008 @ 4:00 pmThis is great–thank you!
On a funny side-note: My husband yelled from the livingroom, “What are you learning at Foto Friday this week?” I yelled back, “How to waterproof!”….total. silence. Then he yells, “Like for taking photos underwater?” I yell back, “Well yeah, you can waterproof any kind of photo!” Well, thankfully I knew what I meant.
I is smart.
The Over-Thinker’s last blog post..Footwear Fridays IIII (I never claimed to be good at Roman Numerals)
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Comment by The Over-Thinker on February 8th, 2008 @ 4:07 pmOut of curiousity – I know she apologized and all – but why on earth would someone take a photo and pass it off as her own? Did she give you a reason?
Michele’s last blog post..Kids are Funny Funny Creatures
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Comment by Michele on February 8th, 2008 @ 4:36 pmShe was doing a post about falling asleep in her yoga class and Googled “Sleeping Like A Baby”
That was the title of my post, and she linked to my photo.
She did not claim that Emily was her baby, but had the photo to illustrate sleeping.
I should also add, as people have asked…
The only reason I knew what had happened is because she “hyperlinked”, meaning she linked directly to the photo I had uploaded to my server.
If my photo had been downloaded, then uploaded to her server, I would never have known, unless a reader of mine saw it.
This is why I now watermark. Prevents people from wanting to download a photo and post it as their own
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Comment by angella on February 8th, 2008 @ 4:42 pmPersonally, I thought your advice about photo editing was very helpful. But obviously there are rude people out there who feel they need to put you down. I understand that you have thin skin, but don’t let them get to you!
Hannah’s last blog post..Back to school
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Comment by Hannah on February 8th, 2008 @ 7:03 pmI’m sorry about the criticism…. if you work out how to grow thicker skin, let me know too!
Robyn’s last blog post..“Only Happy”
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Comment by Robyn on February 8th, 2008 @ 8:17 pmYou should know that hotlinking (that is using your server to deliver the stolen images directly to the thieving site) is bandwidth theft.
If you exceed your bandwidth quota per month, it will cost you at least an extra $25/year, depending on how much more you will need. And that is on a very reasonable hosting service like I have. If you exceed your bandwidth, your site will not display, instead you get an error message that says your bandwidth is exceeded.
THEN there will be freaking outedness!
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Comment by witchypoo on February 8th, 2008 @ 9:58 pmAm I being paranoid to watermark my photos if I’ve only had as many hits as you’ve had comments to this post?
Anyway… I think your blog is awesome, so I’ve given you an award: http://laughingaloneinthedark.blogspot.com/2008/02/omg-somebody-gave-me-award.html
Cheers, eh.
Carolyn’s last blog post..omg. somebody gave me an award.
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Comment by Carolyn on February 8th, 2008 @ 10:47 pmJust a quick note to say that your blog is something special. And thank you for giving all your special advice to those of us who love to listen and watch and learn. If I could give you an award for your sweetness and sharing, I would. : )
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Comment by Jules on February 9th, 2008 @ 12:11 amThere are always a few that have to ruin it for the rest…I really need to start playing with my camera more, it just seems there is never enough time in the day! Love that little girl!
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Comment by Michele on February 9th, 2008 @ 12:33 amThere’s a deleted post? What happened? Hope everything’s okay.
The Lisa Show’s last blog post..Dancing Like Nobody’s Watching, and Thankfully, Nobody Really Is
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Comment by The Lisa Show on February 9th, 2008 @ 6:30 amI’m sorry, but I can’t believe someone would criticize your posts…you are just trying to HELP and if someone doesn’t want your help, then they shouldn’t read the posts!! Anyway, I think your posts are VERY helpful and I really have learned a lot from you. So, don’t stop!!!
Dana’s last blog post..A Broken Heart
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Comment by Dana on February 9th, 2008 @ 11:32 amohh very good info!!!! pictures of my kids, is what scares me the most, although regualr pictures, if someone took them without asking would probably p*** me off! I would more than likely let someone use them if they linked back or gave proper credit, but without asking is rude and trollish and uncalled for! so glad you did this post! Now, I have lens ? and I cant find your dang email address???what have I dont with it? anyway LOL when you have a spare small, tiny moment, email me pleeease.. Im looking for a lens (im clueless here) I can use for outdoor sports (baseball) the season starts soon, and my birthday is next month WOOT! anyway, most of the time they play, its starting to get dark, sooo if that helps any as well and please Ang, dont break my wallet LOL.
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Comment by jenn on February 9th, 2008 @ 12:58 pmThanks Angella…as you saw on flickr, I tried out Picnik last night (which was mentioned by one of your commenters). I’ll have to check out the Adobe one…I think my hubby has it. I don’t intend to mark all my photos with a watermark, but for sure my favorites!
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Comment by SarahD on February 10th, 2008 @ 8:01 amThanks for the lesson. I will study this on the weekend and will definitely apply.
Liza
Liza’s Eyeview’s last blog post..Run For The Whales, Maui 2008
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Comment by Liza's Eyeview on February 11th, 2008 @ 7:17 amLine and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
sorry to hear about the trolls. Good thing they live under bridges and do not come out often.
That being said, I use Paint Shop Pro and although Im not familiar with photoshop, in PSP there are “tubes” you can use with graphics on them, turn them into a chrome image and lessen the opacity. I would love to have my own special watermark, but I am pretty program challenged.
I think you do a great job and don’t mind the boo hoo-ers.
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Comment by kelly on February 8th, 2008 @ 1:16 pm