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Author Topic: Concerning watermarks  (Read 3483 times)

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« on: January 07, 2014, 14:05 »
0
I have looked around the forum and couldn't find a sutible topic. So here it is.

When I look into SS, DT, Fotolia, etc, at the images, I see the companies watermark in  the  image. I understand why this. When a photographer uploads his stock  photos, should they keep out their own watermark?

When I upload to social sites such as FB and Flickr, I add a watermark to the image. I do that for a reason.

So what is the etiquette here? What should I  keep in mind when uploading photos to Stock companies?

Thanks, Erich


ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2014, 14:15 »
0
Do NOT put your watermark on a submitted image.

« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2014, 14:35 »
+1
Read the instructions about submissions on each site. You will see that they all tell you not to watermark, add borders, etc.

« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2014, 15:11 »
0
Great! Thanks Jan and Sue. Thats one question down. :-)

Erich>

Rinderart

« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2014, 01:10 »
-8
Only, One big Problem. Anyone with even a small understanding Of Photoshop can remove a watermark in seconds. I know I can. and have proven it many times. There useless to prevent theft....USELESS. And theres been programs around for years than can upsize anything to amazing results.

« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2014, 01:31 »
+3
I think of watermarks like private property signs.  It won`t really stop anyone who is determined but it is a notice to the honest folks.  And at least the crooks cannot use the excuse they did not know.  And who knows, maybe it caused them to waste 5 minutes of their time removing it.

But the OP`s question was whether images being uploaded to an agency should be watermarked.  And the answer is no, the agency needs a clean copy to deliver to customers and they will add their own watermarks on the gallery images.

« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2014, 09:49 »
0
right.

First, watermarks are not so easily removed, as you may think, it depends on the details in the picture.
Im a fairly advanced photoshopper, and I can imagine the amount of cloneworks and details teleportations it would require.
Second, images cannot be enlarged, not without a loss of details.

But as above mentioned, the watermarks are there, to remind people that the image is copyrighted, so that they cannot claim in court, that they did not know.
Also, who would cheat? Yes thieves would, but it is not thieves we are in business with. It simply does not pay for a decent image consumer to run the risk of not doing things legally, considering the price of the images.

Bloggers maybe, shooting clubs and used car dealers would maybe take the effort to steal a picture. But they are irellevant since they random customers.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2014, 09:52 by JPSDK »

Rinderart

« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2014, 11:38 »
0
Anyone seen there work on sheets,Towels and t-shirts made in China? I have. any 800 x 600 Image can be upsized to fit Nicely on a t-shirt. genuine fractals. I've seen kids do things to Images that is Mind blowing, Even if the Image is changed a bit...Doesn't matter, It's derivative. Just saying. To Late now and even if it wasn't there is absolutely nothing to be done about it, Ya gotta find them,Then try and do something about it. In My view, I gave up all that years ago trying to chase People.

I don't have the time or energy, I've been chasing folks for years, Long before Micro chasing guys sampling my Music copyrights. Been there and back. Im not paying some attorney 5K to chase some stupid kid in Europe to win 10 Bucks.

All this has been talked out forever it seems. To late now, The genie has escaped...LOL!

« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2014, 12:03 »
0
It simply does not pay for a decent image consumer to run the risk of not doing things legally, considering the price of the images.

Well you would think. But it is extraordinary the degree of umbrage people express about having received a demand for money.

Granted sometimes they just did not understand. Or the guy who did their web page was responsible but is long gone. But a typical argument when presented with a bill is to argue that they could download something very similar (in their opinion) from some microstock site for pennies (and yet they did not).

Many people would rather pay for a lawyer to write letters for them.

StockPhotosArt.com

« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2014, 12:17 »
+1
Only, One big Problem. Anyone with even a small understanding Of Photoshop can remove a watermark in seconds. I know I can. and have proven it many times. There useless to prevent theft....USELESS. And theres been programs around for years than can upsize anything to amazing results.

People determined use images without payment and needing some quality couldn't care less about cloning small watermarked images.

They just search the wanted images with Google and easily find them, probably in very high resolution. Cloning watermarks is something from the past, unfortunately.

Anyway, watermarks will stop the less savvy people which are still the vast majority of the users worldwide, and work as a copyright statement that can be useful in a dispute especially if people allege orphaned work.

In our website, we have some images that are hotlinked somewhere and we consider that they work as advertising. At least until we find them...

« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2014, 02:19 »
0
Every stock company should have different guidelines pertaining to this issue in particular. Not really sure of the whole etiquette aspect of this however unfortunately.

fritz

  • I love Tom and Jerry music

« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2014, 05:24 »
+2
deleted
« Last Edit: January 23, 2014, 09:17 by fritz »

« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2014, 06:10 »
+1
Not seconds maybe but can be done in a few minutes but a non-super advanced photoshop user I would think

« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2014, 07:32 »
+1
Only, One big Problem. Anyone with even a small understanding Of Photoshop can remove a watermark in seconds. I know I can. and have proven it many times. There useless to prevent theft....USELESS. And theres been programs around for years than can upsize anything to amazing results.

It just depends on the watermark, the image and what's under the watermark. Istock current watermark it's not easy at all to lift, except on uniform surfaces. Can it be done? Yes, all can be done, but it the end, lifting a watermark to save two credits can cost you 10 o 20 dollars the working hour.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2014, 10:33 »
0
Some businesses don't even bother about removing the watermarks. I've found photos of mine from iS being used commercially with the full old watermark untouched, as well as part-removed (the diagonal lines were still there though the main part was removed).

A member here showed me adverts he'd seen lifted from his Flickr stream (which he totally removed shortly afterwards). He had disabled right-click saved, put a big copyright watermark over the photos and a copyright notice in the description. And the files were being used with his big copyright mark in web advertisements. I saw these myself, not just hearsay.

And besides once a file has sold and is used on the web, it's there for the lifting, with no watermark, and usually no right-click disable or any indication where it has come from.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2014, 11:03 by ShadySue »

Rinderart

« Reply #15 on: January 23, 2014, 01:03 »
-1
Correct.

Rinderart

« Reply #16 on: January 23, 2014, 01:13 »
-4
Do you guys know who makes more money than anyone  with our copyrights, That includes music and film? The wireless carriers thats who. 60 Billion Last year alone from "Peer to peer" File sharing. trillions of Images,Trillions of copyrighted songs,Films,TV shows are being sent every day. Who gets paid? No one except the wireless carriers. I was a big part of a Lawsuit 2 years ago because I own Lots of copyrights for My Music. Over 400TV shows and 30 feature films along with 400+ songs that were successful. We get nothing. The carriers get everything in fees. Watermarks? for stock Images....Plaaaaeeze. Small potatoes. I've been fighting this for 15 years and Were losing Big Time and the game is basically Over.

Forget your Images, There gone guys.Bitching on this or any other site is useless. 10 years to late, Just Like commissions and owning what we do. Sorry. "TRUTH"
« Last Edit: January 23, 2014, 01:16 by Rinderart »


 

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