The development of the Internet and the spread of digital photography have posed an essential question for content owners – how to protect the image from theft? Over time, a good solution was found. Most photographers like to put a watermark on their pictures. The caption on the photo contains information about the author, preventing attackers from assigning the image to themselves.
Such stigma also plays a marketing role. Other users can always identify the author of watermarked photos if it is on a third-party resource.
A watermark is a transparent inscription, small graphic image, or logo that is present on the image. A stigma is used to indicate the author of a picture. Photographers often prescribe their first and last name, brand name, or links to social networks.
The primary purpose of a watermark is to protect photo and video content from illegal copying. Add a unique sign if you plan to sell your images online. You can place your photos on particular stocks by adding watermarks all over the picture. So, the potential buyer can get acquainted with the content and understand whether it suits him. The author will send the original image to the buyer without the watermark if the transaction is closed.
The watermark is almost impossible to remove from the photo. Modern services use a particular application technology, especially regarding batch processing of photos. Programs automatically modify the watermark on each new photo. It is invisible to the naked eye, but other AI services cannot eliminate the label. You can remove the watermark, but all the manipulations must be done manually. It will be easier for an attacker to find untagged content on the network. He can publish your pictures with a stigma. But this way, everyone will know about the creator of the picture.
Rules for Applying Watermarks
Any photo tag must meet several criteria regardless of its role (protecting content from copying, advertising the author, etc.). The main requirement is that the watermark does not stand out too much in the photo. Prominent a label can reduce the value of content. Furthermore, don’t make the stigma too pale – if it is barely visible in the photo, no one will know anything about the author.
The author’s corporate identity can be turned into watermarks. You can use the following as a unique character:
- Name and surname of the author of the content. You can also specify the data of the copyright holder who purchased the photo from the author. Most watermarking programs support hundreds of classic and custom spellings.
- Graphic logo.
- Text logo. You can specify the author’s data, website address or link to social networks, and other contacts for communication with the photographer.
- Combined watermark. It is a combination of a graphic and text logo.
- Signature of the author.
How to Choose a Place for a Watermark
The easiest way to place a watermark is in the corner of the selected image. Such a label will not spoil the photo’s overall composition and look appropriate and neat. But such a stigma has one significant disadvantage – it can be easily removed from the picture, enough to crop the photo in the right place.
The watermark should not be in the center of the image. Furthermore, avoid places that can be called critical points in your photo. Placing a brand over a human face is not necessary. This will spoil the perception of the image. People won’t want to buy such a photo.
Some More Tips for Proper Watermark Placement
You should follow a few rules if you watermark your picture for the first time. They will help you avoid common mistakes. Your content will continue to be attractive to potential buyers, while it will not be illegally copied:
- Don’t make the watermark too big. It is better to place several watermarks in different parts of the picture.
- Choose solid colors. So the label will not distract attention.
- Avoid shades that blend into the background of the photo. Therefore, the stigma will be lost and become invisible.
- Make sure every element in the photo makes sense.
The watermark should not interfere with the perception of the image. Experiment with fonts, colors, sizes, and transparency. Always put yourself in the shoes of a user who might be interested in your photo.