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How to Add Watermarks to Your Website Photos and Images

“You can prevent right-clicking of images by adding a simple piece of code to your Web site, but it’s not a foolproof solution. A clever user might be able to extract a photo from a browser’s cache or use screen-capture software to save it. Also, the right-click trick may not work if the user has disabled JavaScript in the browser.

A better option would be to watermark your photos with your name, a warning about unauthorized use, or a copyright notice. Watermarks can be placed so they don’t interfere with viewing photos, but might dissuade Web site visitors from copying them.”

From the San Francisco Chronicle. Mentions two options I’d not heard of to watermark your photos: Picture-Shark and Visual Watermark. Photoshop also has a built-in link from its Filter menu to another watermarking service, Digimarc.

And while we’re on the topic of protecting images online on your site, or your client’s website, it’s a good idea to use a simple script to disable right mouse clicks so people can’t download your image, in most cases. Dynamic Drive has a very simple script with instructions. I also highly recommend updating their pop-up to mention you own the copyright and that re-use of your image without permission is illegal. Best to let people know they’re stealing which, in theory, makes it easier if you take them to court because you’ve explicitly warned them.

URLs:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/03/17/BUIVVJAIF.DTL

http://www.picture-shark.com/

http://visualwatermark.com/

http://www.digimarc.com/mypicturemarc/

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex9/noright2.htm

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