Protecting from art theft: Watermarking

[Catwoman69y2k]

I just wanted to run this poll. I thought it would help with artists who are looking to figure out the best way to watermark thier stuff.

[Grave]

I wouldnt watermark anything. It ruins the image and detracts from the subject matter, which i am aware is the whole point but for us peeps who dont want to steal art and just wanna enjoy the image, it kinda becomes a little annoying.

Plus, its the most stereotypical thing a furry-artist could do to his/her artwork :P

My art sucks so no one will ever steal it so thats my watermark...suckage, lol

Nah, as long as you sign and date your pics i see no point in a watermark.

[Xax]

Where is the "no watermark" option?

[Grave]

Where is the "no watermark" option?

Did...we just...AGREE on something?! Holy fu....

[cpctail]

If anything, I'd say put it in the corner or somewhere where it wouldn't totally destroy the picture. Cause, yeah you wouldn't want someone taking credit of your work.

[Xax]

Where is the "no watermark" option?

Did...we just...AGREE on something?! Holy fu....

I know, I'm scared too.

[furry]

One vote here for "no watermark".

[TORA]

Watermarks are a deterrent to the picture if it's smack dab in the middle. I voted for the corner, but there really shouldn't be any. ROWR.

[Darkmark]

I put a signature off in the corner of the picture somewhere. But a lot of my pictures are collaborations, so I need to put the other artists' signatures on there as well.

Putting it across a picture just plain ruins it.

[Unciaa]

No watermark. Hell, I hardly even have a signature, it's just a scribble; usually in an easy-to-remove place if people wanted to use the image as a wallpaper or something (hey. Hey. It could happen. ... :().

[Vorotaev]

If you are going to watermark an image I'd generally say to use a corner, or a part of the picture which is largely empty space, should the corner hold details important to the picture. Faded is almost always preferable, so at least the details below the watermark aren't entirely obscured.

Solid watermarks and watermarks in the center are -- in my humble opinion -- needed only on samples of items for sale and commission progress pictures, if the work is unpaid for.

[Silver R. Wolfe]

I dislike the water marks smack dab in the middle of the picture, regardless of how ghosted the mark may be.

It sorta just... makes me less happy about the picture and doesn't like me like it as much. I mean, I know why it's there but it could be done more tastefully. I like the ones where a person will put their ? around one of the elements of the picture. I think it looks good and doesn't detract from it.

[Dragoneer]

I prefer noticable, yet non-instrusive sigs.

[Almafeta]

Note that any watermark can be removed fairly easily. In fact, one of my submissions is one in which the original watermark had been obviously removed, and I'm trying to find out the original artist... ^^;

[Vorotaev]

Note that any watermark can be removed fairly easily. In fact, one of my submissions is one in which the original watermark had been obviously removed, and I'm trying to find out the original artist... ^^;
With no disrespect whatsoever intended, are you sure that statement isn't a bit overzealous?

Unless an image is saved with layers, the watermark is as much a part of the image as anything else in it. There's no way -- that I'm aware of -- to use a program to remove such a watermark automagically.

Removing an obtrusively placed watermark by hand results in all the problems people have when trying to uncensor Japanese artworks. Namely, that in order to remove the censorship, you need to know what was below the mosaic in the first place and then redraw it. Since a watermark -- especially a solid one -- obscures what it covers, there's no particularly easy way to restore a watermarked image.

The only real way to remove a watermark is simply to crop it out of the picture, or should a watermark be placed above a white/monochrome/very simple background, to colour it out of the picture.

[Kitteh]

Note that any watermark can be removed fairly easily. In fact, one of my submissions is one in which the original watermark had been obviously removed, and I'm trying to find out the original artist... ^^;
With no disrespect whatsoever intended, are you sure that statement isn't a bit overzealous?

Unless an image is saved with layers, the watermark is as much a part of the image as anything else in it. There's no way -- that I'm aware of -- to use a program to remove such a watermark automagically.

Removing an obtrusively placed watermark by hand results in all the problems people have when trying to uncensor Japanese artworks. Namely, that in order to remove the censorship, you need to know what was below the mosaic in the first place and then redraw it. Since a watermark -- especially a solid one -- obscures what it covers, there's no particularly easy way to restore a watermarked image.

The only real way to remove a watermark is simply to crop it out of the picture, or should a watermark be placed above a white/monochrome/very simple background, to colour it out of the picture.
unless the watermark is like, a huge solid thing, it can be easily photoshopped out of the artwork.. most watermarks are the artist's signature or a bit of solid/partially transparent text, and it doesn't take much to connect the lines/colors surrounding the text to paint it out of the picture. of course, to do it flawlessly, you need to have graphic/digital art skills, so i don't know why anyone would particularly want to be ripping people's art anyway if they were qualified as such.

i sign my art to at least deter the most inept art thieves, and to make sure my name is on it in the case of someone deciding to repost the original on another site..

[kayanamasha]

no watermark for me.
thats noob, ridiculous and doesnt empeach anyone to copy or resubmit anything.

[Grave]

no watermark for me.
thats noob, ridiculous and doesnt empeach anyone to copy or resubmit anything.

And its such the stereotypical thing to do as well isnt it?

[Silver R. Wolfe]

no watermark for me.
thats noob, ridiculous and doesnt empeach anyone to copy or resubmit anything.

And its such the stereotypical thing to do as well isnt it?

Agreed.

[Almafeta]

unless the watermark is like, a huge solid thing, it can be easily photoshopped out of the artwork.. most watermarks are the artist's signature or a bit of solid/partially transparent text, and it doesn't take much to connect the lines/colors surrounding the text to paint it out of the picture. of course, to do it flawlessly, you need to have graphic/digital art skills, so i don't know why anyone would particularly want to be ripping people's art anyway if they were qualified as such.

For some people, it's easier to steal than to create. *sigh*

[SliverLynx]

To me, watermarks are extremely important. I use them in a varity of ways.

First, if I'm showing off a prelim for art (unfinished) I'll usually watermark it transparently, however if it's a finished piece that I'm waiting for payment on, I'll mark it almost opaquely. I also usually put a very faint watermark on some of my pieces, that you'd have to zoom in to catch - it would just make printing a nightmare.

And I usually produce a watermark-free image for people who are buying my art directly from me.

To be honest here's the difference.

If you have one, people might not take it for fear that someone would catch on that they're stealing your prints.

If you don't, and people DO take them, others are not even going to give them a second look.

*I* personally, NEVER buy tshirts/posters/prints unless I've seeen the artists' sketches or sketchbook, which they'd better have on hand. If they can't produce, I don't buy.

I also don't buy from people who say "Oh, yeah, we've got permission from "insert artist"" because I'm 100% certain they never do. And why would they bother asking permission? If they can produce great tshirts and make a bundle without the artist ever knowing, there's no penalty.

No, be smart and never buy tshirts'prints from anyone except those who can produce honest to God sketches of the originals.

[kayanamasha]

..i doubt anyone can SELL a print from a 600?900 pixel picture.

for an A4 (210?297mm) you may get at least a picture of 1024?1600 of resolution. still, and with the best anti - aliasing algorithms ever created: we're far of getting a poster or anything you will show on your room's walls !

[kayanamasha]

no watermark for me.
thats noob, ridiculous and doesnt empeach anyone to copy or resubmit anything.

And its such the stereotypical thing to do as well isnt it?

well, what can't we do out of a pic... OMFG !
http://nowhereincoming.free.fr/bbs/1136989949447_cage.JPG

[wut]

no watermark for me.
thats noob, ridiculous and doesnt empeach anyone to copy or resubmit anything.

And its such the stereotypical thing to do as well isnt it?

well, what can't we do out of a pic... OMFG !
http://nowhereincoming.free.fr/bbs/1136989949447_cage.JPG

hahaha.

[Grave]

no watermark for me.
thats noob, ridiculous and doesnt empeach anyone to copy or resubmit anything.

And its such the stereotypical thing to do as well isnt it?

well, what can't we do out of a pic... OMFG !
http://nowhereincoming.free.fr/bbs/1136989949447_cage.JPG


I dunt geddit...

[Dragoneer]

I dunt geddit...
Nicholas Cage stole your pr0n!

[Grave]

I dunt geddit...
Nicholas Cage stole your pr0n!

Thats nic cage? I didnt notice...couldnt make out the face. Besides, id NEVER draw any pokecrap porn! :P

[Dragoneer]

I dunt geddit...
Nicholas Cage stole your pr0n!

Thats nic cage? I didnt notice...couldnt make out the face. Besides, id NEVER draw any pokecrap porn! :P
That's Digimon shit. :)

[Grave]

I dunt geddit...
Nicholas Cage stole your pr0n!

Thats nic cage? I didnt notice...couldnt make out the face. Besides, id NEVER draw any pokecrap porn! :P
That's Digimon shit. :)

Same shit :P

[Dragoneer]

I dunt geddit...
Nicholas Cage stole your pr0n!

Thats nic cage? I didnt notice...couldnt make out the face. Besides, id NEVER draw any pokecrap porn! :P
That's Digimon shit. :)

Same shit :P
Nah, it's different. It's like comparing a brown loaf to the green splatters. While it's still shit, it's just not the same.

[tundra_arctic_wolf]

I prefer no watermark whatsoever on my artwork.

[The Red Alchemist]

I watermark sometimes, but it's more of a signature that I do with the computer. My handwriting is awful.

[Tabuu-Lion]

I don't use watermarks, signatures or anything. I'm basically not concerned with getting any resultant revenue or reputation associated with artwork. I do it all for the sake of creating and sharing.

I think that as a for-profit artist, though, it's a little lazy and irresponsible not to, especially if you're publically displaying a picture at the same quality level provided to your customer. In such a case it has to signifigantly obscure the detail in order to protect the customer. Generally I'd more than likely ask the buyer in detail about what restrictions I should publically post the images with upon recieving permission. Their money, their choice. You shouldn't really make them buy the cow if you're letting other people get cream for free. At least knock it down to 2% o.o

Hopefully someone other than Nullenigma can understand that last statement o.o

[vashdragon]

Lol nope i dont get that last part.

Yah ive thought about doing signatures on my art but i have no idea what would be the best way to go about doing that. I more so want it because just about every one of my pictures varries in style in some way so putting my name on it would probly help matters. Im thinking of adopting a Nek0Gami type signature.

And yah id have to agree with you if it were things like prints and CDs. Such as the print or the CD will have higher resolutions on it. However, in the wake of commissions, i tend to leave it up to the person buying it whether or not i can publicaly show it. (Or art trade, request, etc...)

[Maverynthia]

I put usually a faded signature of a small part of the artwork thats off to the bottom or something. Not too much really for art theft, but more for a "I drood this" because it seriously gets to me when I have a KICK ASS piece of artwork on my harddrive and I know not who drew it to get more.

[ArrowTibbs]

I do signatures off and on...But I have this nasty habit of trying to hide them and tend to fade them so much you can't really read the damn thing anyway.

I really want to figure out some sort of nice, simple little watermark design I can throw in a corner without disrupting my entire picture...