Author Topic: New watermarks - anyone see an example? (Read 8577 times)

Jo Ann Snover · « **on:** July 14, 2017, 11:54 »

https://www.shutterstock.com/contributorsupport/articles/kbat02/000012560

Received email with a link to this blog post this morning.

I looked at the preview of the image they used in the article and it doesn't appear to have the new features - the contributor name included in the watermark. Two images I had approved late last night didn't have the new watermark (that I could see) so they appear not to be including it in new approvals yet

I have posted in the thread on the Shutterstock forum asking for two examples of the new preview watermark - one over white and one with a darker all-over image - so we can check it out. Sounds like a great idea, but given the history with their preview "improvements" I want to see an example.

Anyone else see the new individualized preview watermark?

Edited to add that a reply in the SS forum from another contributor pointed out that the reduced preview image in the article does have the new watermarking even though the live preview doesn't. I zoomed my browser to 250% and I could then see the contributor name in the watermark. It appears the watermark hasn't changed much beyond inserting "by contributor name" along one of the diagonal lines. Still need to see some 1500 pixel examples though.

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2017, 12:19 »

Funny, just a few days ago we wrote about stock media being used in various memes, but with no data of the source file. If they are used with no permission, they would at least get some free promotion for source files. We don't even want to know how many illegal abuses are present on world wide web.

niktol · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2017, 13:10 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on July 14, 2017, 11:54

Anyone else see the new individualized preview watermark?

Nope

Dumc · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2017, 13:53 »

When will my images be updated?

We are updating the entire Shutterstock collection gradually. Your existing images may not all be processed at the same time.

How specifically is this new watermark providing enhanced protection?
The new watermark is slightly different on each image, and will credit contributors in the design.

Because the watermark on each image is unique, it helps protect against potential attempts to develop technologies that remove watermarks at large scale.

Minsc · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2017, 14:11 »

They need to backfill every images, so I think it’ll take a few weeks for it to propagate to their entire collection.

JetCityImage · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2017, 16:25 »

Any time someone posts an example of a way to get "free" SS downloads, we ALL need to forward to Shutterstock. It's very very very important that we let them know that sites like that exist.

mantered · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2017, 04:28 »

I just noticed they lowered the quality of the previews, they look out of focus :|

The contributor support confirmed that this is an anti-theft measure.
Now the clients would think that the images are of low quality.

Another brilliant way to kill the sales

cathyslife · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2017, 07:31 »

Quote from: mantered on July 21, 2017, 04:28

I just noticed they lowered the quality of the previews, they look out of focus :|

The contributor support confirmed that this is an anti-theft measure.
Now the clients would think that the images are of low quality.

Another brilliant way to kill the sales

Well, if SS presents the anti-theft measure to buyers correctly, they will know that the final image they buy is in focus. If they buy it and have a problem, they should instantly be able to take care of the problem with support. Hopefully SS still at least provides support for customers.

I am glad to see they are finally addressing the theft problem. It might not be a perfect solution, but will there ever be?

Dumc · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2017, 07:55 »

Quote from: mantered on July 21, 2017, 04:28

I just noticed they lowered the quality of the previews, they look out of focus :|

The contributor support confirmed that this is an anti-theft measure.
Now the clients would think that the images are of low quality.

Another brilliant way to kill the sales

I think the quality of the previews is low only for images that were uploaded after they introduced preview. Images, that were uploaded before that look good. At leas that was the case few months ago.

mantered · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2017, 08:11 »

That's correct but all the images will get the new watermark treatment.
Until they manage to do all the images in the database, all the new images will have blurred previews. The clients would see blurred previews next to sharp old ones :|

Chichikov · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2017, 01:45 »

I have just noticed that some of my images, not all, have already the new watermark with my user name.
I like it

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2017, 13:17 »

Quote from: mantered on July 21, 2017, 04:28

I just noticed they lowered the quality of the previews, they look out of focus :|

The contributor support confirmed that this is an anti-theft measure.
Now the clients would think that the images are of low quality.

Another brilliant way to kill the sales

And if they are clear then you'll complain they are too good and can be copied and used. No winning no matter what they do.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2017, 15:55 »

Yes. I see some of my images have the new watermark. I like it too. And my images don't seem blurry at all.

Chichikov · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2017, 02:38 »

Quote from: mantered on July 21, 2017, 04:28

I just noticed they lowered the quality of the previews, they look out of focus :|

The contributor support confirmed that this is an anti-theft measure.
Now the clients would think that the images are of low quality.

Another brilliant way to kill the sales

Resize your browser window.
(The images are 1500 pixels large, but they adapt to the window size)

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #14 on:** July 25, 2017, 19:36 »

Shutterstock hasn't finished updating previews yet (at least I have a number of images, of all ages, that have "old" previews) but I have been able to check a variety of image types and what I see is that the new watermark is an improvement.

Looking at overall dark images and those with white backgrounds, both have noticeably more "marks" over the image. Not sure if this was just a side effect of them putting a name into the mix or something they wanted to do, but it's noticeable. I haven't found an example where anything is worse than it was before

I have three versions of watermarked previews for a sample of items from my portfolio - v1 was the white bottom border, v2 the dark gray and now v3 is personalized with dark gray border.

Edited to add: I did look at the amount of blurriness in the new previews compared to (a) the old previews and (b) my original images, scaled down to 1500 pixels on the long edge. It is very easy to see how much they've blurred the preview if you look at an image with lots of edges at 200% or higher. At 100% it's really hard to see that there is a difference and I'd guess a buyer would not rely on a zoomed in look of a watermarked preview that they know is scaled down.

Chichikov · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2017, 01:10 »

I don't know how they apply these new watermarks, but I have noticed that some of them are really "wavy"

Noedelhap · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2017, 05:26 »

Quote from: Chichikov on July 26, 2017, 01:10

I don't know how they apply these new watermarks, but I have noticed that some of them are really "wavy"

Which is a good thing. No watermark is the same which makes it harder for auto-removal tools to properly do their job.

sarah2 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2017, 13:26 »

NONE of mine seem to have the new watermark yet. Looks like not only am I forgotten by the Photo Sales Division but also Watermarking.....

ravens · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2017, 15:11 »

I like the new watermark with my username in it. Brilliant idea from Shutterstock!

JimP · « **Reply #19 on:** August 09, 2017, 10:06 »

Quote from: ravens on August 01, 2017, 15:11

I like the new watermark with my username in it. Brilliant idea from Shutterstock!

Only on new at first, now I see the new with my name on best sellers. Nice move SS.

rinderart · « **Reply #20 on:** August 10, 2017, 14:31 »

Mine Look the same. sure am seeing a Lot of folks using My B&W portraits for inspiration it seems. LOL Thats fine.

Chichikov · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2017, 06:31 »

Quote from: rinderart on August 10, 2017, 14:31

Mine Look the same. sure am seeing a Lot of folks using My B&W portraits for inspiration it seems. LOL Thats fine.

Maybe they are inspired by those made by Andrzej Dragan…

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2017, 14:35 »

good call, difference is his images have normal skin color

Dumc · « **Reply #23 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:00 »

https://petapixel.com/2017/08/18/ai-can-easily-erase-photo-watermarks-heres-protect/

Bad Company · « **Reply #24 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:42 »

Quote from: mantered on July 21, 2017, 04:28

they look out of focus :|

Now the clients would think that the images are of low quality.

They already know that most of the images are low quality - except for the folks on this site

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #25 on:** August 21, 2017, 22:11 »

https://thenextweb.com/google/2017/08/21/google-shutterstock-watermark-stock-photo/#.tnw_uT0DWO1x

Shutterstock's warped watermarks plus inclusion of contributor name defeat automated watermark removal

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Author Topic: New watermarks - anyone see an example? (Read 8577 times)

Jo Ann Snover

Video-StockOrg

niktol

Dumc

Minsc

JetCityImage

mantered

cathyslife

Dumc

mantered

Chichikov

YadaYadaYada

Shelma1

Chichikov

Jo Ann Snover

Chichikov

Noedelhap

sarah2

ravens

JimP

rinderart

Chichikov

Microstockphoto

Dumc

Bad Company

Jo Ann Snover

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