Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

[DPNow]

Here is a summary of today's DPNow Picture of the Day:

Enjoy this excellent study of a shy three year old, enhanced by the use of warm mono tone and limited depth of field. You, too, could be featured on the DPNow.com POTD, simply register on our discussion forum, netting free gallery space, and the rest is up to you!

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[Stephen]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Congrats on your POTD Gina. This is a truly sensitive treatment you have given to a most appealing shot

[Gina]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Thank you very much for picking another of my images for POTD.

I am truly delighted but a little saddened at the same time about the comment about my signature spoiling the picture. I have to say, I appreciate that it is somewhat of a distraction but I don't feel it spoils the image and after having some of my work 'stolen' from the internet recently I don't know what else I can do. I don't have watermark software or photoshop so any other useful links or suggestions for the future so images are not spoiled would be gratefully received.

[ekkl]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

You had your work stolen. How did you know, where was it and what have you done about it? That's shocking

PS congrats on the pic, it's superb.

[Gina]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Hi ekkl,

Thanks for the kind wishes about POTD, I'm thrilled to bits.

Yes some low life stole one of my photo's from a networking photo site (it had no signature/watermark) and it turned up on a different site with their name all over it. It took me weeks to get the image removed but to be honest, the grief it caused me just drained my energy. People like that are going to continue doing it no matter what. Words fail me that people can stoop so low. This is the reason I sign my images now. Of course I have the originals etc, but the shock at seeing one of your images with someone else's name on it is unreal.

What else can I do to protect my work? How do you create an embedded watermark do you know?

Gina

[mib2]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Hi Gina

Well done and a great shot too.

There's nothing better than the warm fuzzy feeling of being the POTD winner.

Dave R

[Ian]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Hi Gina,

The problem with the copyright mark is its positioning - right in the middle of the picture. It's usually best position it towards the bottom, near the edge of the frame.

Anyone who is intent on stealing an image will usually be successful one way or another. The copyright mark where you have positioned it could be very easily cloned out.

But I think the picture is great and that is why I was critical of the copyright positioning.

I have been a victim of image theft too, so I am sympathetic.

Ian

[jojo]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Well done Gina - an engaging image

jo

[Stephen]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

Hi Gina,

The problem with the copyright mark is its positioning - right in the middle of the picture. It's usually best position it towards the bottom, near the edge of the frame.

Anyone who is intent on stealing an image will usually be successful one way or another. The copyright mark where you have positioned it could be very easily cloned out.

But I think the picture is great and that is why I was critical of the copyright positioning.

I have been a victim of image theft too, so I am sympathetic.

Ian

I'd have to agree with Ian. Frankly other than even more in your face copyright marking there is not much you can you. I'm not too sure what you mean my watermarking, but it is certainly possible to make your copyright logo more translucent. Text on a photo is a separate layer, so you need to reduce the Fill or Opacity. Photoshop allows much greater flexibility, and it is also possible to add your details to the Exif data. However all Exif data can be stripped out easily enough, but I do add my details to all my pictures as a matter of course.

I've attached a copy of your shot with your details cloned out and I've added them to the corner as a translucent watermark just as an example

[Pol]

Re: Picture of the Day - Friday 15th May 2009

What else can I do to protect my work? How do you create an embedded watermark do you know?

Gina

I think it might be possible to use the digimarc plugin with Adobe Elements as well as Photoshop.

I don't use digimarc myself but I did once try it out for someone who did and he'd wanted to see if the watermark could be 'washed out' of the image. He didn't manage to remove it completely iirc, especially if the digimarc had been embedded at the highest level. I seem to remember he managed to reduce the intensity of it at lower levels but never actually removed it.

Have a look at the link HERE and see if there's anything compatible with your own imaging software.

Digimac isn't free but you can choose an annual subscription suitable for your needs. eg 1000 images a year for $79. The watermark doesn't stop the image being swiped but the mark does track the image on the .net so you'll always know where it's been posted and you can follow it via your digimarc account.

Bear in mind though - even a high level, paid for digimarked image can be swiped from a screenshot and I don't think the embedded mark would show if it was a screengrab.


Pol