Watermarking Photos

[Mark Mac]

I was thinking about this after reading a recent thread.

How effective is watermarking photos? With the technology available to everyone, isn't it possible to reproduce these photos (as everyone fears) after "painting" over the watermark?

What is the best way to watermark? Placing it over a feature that would be difficult to recreate?

I am curious as I have found my photos posted on other forums (credit was given in this case) and am a little concerned - especially as I freely share all images I obtain.

Thanks,

Mark

[Sturmgeist]

Well I would definately not put a watermark or anything of the sort nearby the edges of the photo, because that could easily be cropped out. I would put it nearby something interesting on the photo, something that would make that individual out there want to steal it. For instance...if the subject is an RK winner, I'd put a mark nearby his head. If he has a large set of ribbon bars, I'd put it nearby his left pocket. There are programs out there that allow you to make really nice, distinctive watermarks to your every preferance, such as Batch Watermark. Unfortunately I have no skill with these, but other people may.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Mark, have a look at this thread which Raymond has written about watermarking:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=263575

Cheers, Ade.

[PZIV]

I just put them in multiple places around the photo, but not in a place to distract from asthetic beauty. The goal for me is to share, and I will not let stupid things ruin it.

[i.spring]

Its becoming a series problem, where collectors spend a lot of there money buying original and then to find, the same images being stolen and sold on the internet for a fraction of the price. The only thing we can do is make it so difficult for these image pirates, that its almost not worth there time.
A few good tips would be (PhotoShop)
1. run a thick ribbon across the screen digitally with your logo and collectors name on it.
this removes a slice of the photo which is impossible to replace by a forger.
2. create a a complex shape sticker that is digitally over laid on a area of the photo. The shape should be interwoven, so it doesnt overload the image but does take great effort to remove.
3. Reduce the image file size and quality when you are saving your images. the user generally wont see the difference, but if a forger wants to make prints, it will look tottaly crap.

[i.spring]

Just to give a good example of this problem, i just searched ebay for 1 minute and found half a dozen people selling 'DVD with 1000 original color WW2 photos"
Does anyone think here, that these guys own any of these images. the answer is a hugh NOOOOOO !
Even the sample photos shown are taken from original images owned by the Imperial War Museum in England and the American National Archive in Washington.
Even more scarey is that fact that the sellers proudly state they update there DVDs with new material every week!!!

If we dont come together and help fight these Pirates, 1 of 2 things will happen, we will have to stop shareing our images on these forums and boards or 2, our hugh investment in what we love, will be reuined in the future.
Ian

[PZIV]

Just to give a good example of this problem, i just searched ebay for 1 minute and found half a dozen people selling 'DVD with 1000 original color WW2 photos"
Does anyone think here, that these guys own any of these images. the answer is a hugh NOOOOOO !
Even the sample photos shown are taken from original images owned by the Imperial War Museum in England and the American National Archive in Washington.
Even more scarey is that fact that the sellers proudly state they update there DVDs with new material every week!!!

If we dont come together and help fight these Pirates, 1 of 2 things will happen, we will have to stop shareing our images on these forums and boards or 2, our hugh investment in what we love, will be reuined in the future.
Ian

How many people buy those things anyway? And why?

[astarr]

Protecting Photos

"If we dont come together and help fight these Pirates, 1 of 2 things will happen, we will have to stop shareing our images on these forums and boards or 2, our hugh investment in what we love, will be reuined in the future."

I guess I have a few thoughts on this topic. Agreed, folks that do not own the original images, should not be selling images without written permission. I too have seen, and bought, a "1,000 WW2 Color Photos" CD-ROM, only to be disappointed with the quality, and questionable sources. This is bad on many levels.

On the other hand, we are all on the forum because we have a passion for WW2 history. When I see, for example, original color photography (Like Afrikakorps Rommel's Tropical Army in Original Color, Schiffer), it brings a whole new reality to history. It would be a shame to stop sharing images altogether. The REAL value of these images is only what we ourselves value, which is an intangable, and can never be devalued. History is daily being uncovered, from boxes, atics, and trunks, and shown to fellow history buffs like ourselves.

One way folks minimize piracy, is by publishing a book for a fee, thus creating a minor barrier to the casual pirate. I'd love to help assemble a book (or, even a PDF) of great color photos from all the good folks on this forum (gladly share mine as well). I see the folks at "Luftwaffe im Focus" (http://www.luftfahrtverlag-start.de/...ehomepage.html) are doing this, and even attempting to publish a "Heer im Focus" all color book.

Cheers!
Astarr

[seekwhence]

Astarr - I would advise against working with the LiF Group. They were far too slow in sending my Luftwaffe color slides back to me - in fact for a while I didn't think I'd be getting them back. Also, they were far too slow in paying me. If you want further proof of their misdeeds, email or PM me outside the public forum.

Dave (seekwhence)

[astarr]

Dave (seekwhence),

Good advice, thank you. Too bad... hopefully one bad apple won't spoil the cart.

Cheers!
Astarr