Old School
Ugly Copyright
New School
Digimarc Copyright---beautiful...;)
I’ve never really enjoyed watermarking my photos. The truth is it can be a hassle, and frankly, it doesn’t always look right. I want you to learn from my mistakes, so bear with me while I walk down memory lane. When I first started sharing images on the internet, I used one of those big fat copyright watermarks that sits dead-center in the middle of your image. Smart right? I mean who’s really going to look at the image when the copyright symbol becomes the image. Then I got smarter and moved on using Lightroom to place either a graphic or text watermark in an inconspicuous place. Now there’s nothing wrong with this idea– it can be a deterrent for image theft and serves as a way to promote your work. If promoting your work is all you’re worried about and image theft isn’t a concern then fine, but if the latter keeps you up at night, (or at least makes you stir) then keep reading. Text and graphic based watermarks can be easily cloned out of an image, and with Adobe’s CS5 content aware feature, it’s only going to get easier to remove watermarks.
So fast forward to where I am, and where technology is, today. Now enters Digimarc, a company at the forefront of digitally embedding a watermark. What makes Digimarc’s plug-in so cool is that it creates a digital fingerprint of your copyright data and embeds it into the image while remaining virtually unnoticeable. Now, I know we all know about metadata and you’re probably thinking heck, my metadata has all my information, so why do I need a digital embedded watermark? Metadata is great, but much like a standard graphic watermark it too can be stripped out of an image. So if you’re serious about not having your content stolen, then a digitally embedded watermark is the way to go. They even offer a service that will track who’s using your watermarked image. Yep, that’s right. They scour the internet looking for your images. How cool is that?
Watch this video to get a really good idea how the services work. It’s a very simple plug-in for Photoshop, and rumor has it they’re working on a plug-in for Lightroom.
How to Digitally Watermark Digital Images for the Best Results from Digimarc on Vimeo.
Digimarc has very affordable pricing plans starting at $49.00 for 1,000 images. If you want to track who’s using your image, then check out their professional package for $99.00. I know this sounds like an infomercial, but I’m telling you, it’s slick and an easy way to get the job done.
But wait…drum roll….
Here’s the sweetest part: Digimarc is donating one free professional license for me to giveaway. Just drop your name on this post and for next week’s Q&A Friday I’ll be announcing the winner. Just enter by Thursday at midnight, Pacific time to be considered. The drawing will be random, so just stop by the blog and tell me to hook you up. How easy is that?
But wait there’s more.. 
Digimarc is being super generous and giving all my readers a 30% discount. All you need to do is put code name “batdorff” in the coupon section of the checkout and you’ll receive 30% off the subscription rate. If you happen to be the lucky drawing winner then they’ll simply refund the purchase.
Good luck and remember to win all you need to do is leave your name on the blog telling me to hook you up…;)
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Wow, John. This is another great contest. And the discount code is the icing on the cake–thanks!
I’m just waiting for it to be a Lightroom plugin.
It sounds like they’re working on the Lightroom plugin so hopefully very soon.
Hook me up!!!
OH I would love to win this ……….I have been told I “need” a watermark but being that I am an oldschool girl from the film days……….. I had no idea why……..its becoming increasingly more obvious…….my fb “friends” are taking my photos and enlarging them for their own use – I NEED this!
I was literally just looking at this last night. have to say I agree with Craig, they should definitely come out with a Lightroom plugin. Thanks for setting this up John.
Love it!
hook you up!
Hook me up too – I’d like to use this for my pictures.
Cool software! Hook me up for sure!
Love it!!! Please hook me up
HOOK ME UP,PLEASE!!!
So is this tech just to provide additional proof in a court of law when an infringement is found? Is it any better than registering your images via the copyright service for that purpose? Do they have a service that crawls the web looking for images with the watermark that are posted illegally?
Chris, this is an excellent questions. This is just another step in helping protect yourself from image theft. I strongly recommend reading this link by RC Concepcion. http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2010/archives/10041#more-10041
Let me know if you have any more questions…John
Looking forward to watermarking some of my favourite photo’s
Hook me up please!!
I’d love to have this! Thanks for the contest.
Hook me up! This looks great!
Hook me up!
Hook me up with a watermark!
yeah, hook me up it’ll be a great gift – tomorrow is my birthday!!
hook me up please~
This looks awesome! I need this really bad. I am bad about marking my photos & I need to start. This watermark would be perfect! Hook me up!!!
hook me up..a hooka me up ..peace and love
I would love to win a license to Digimarc.
Sounds very cool…
Oh Yeah! Would definitely appreciate a hood up with this! :~) And thanks for sharing your secret!
please hook me up
Would love to get hooked up with that!
Thanks for sharing this information
This is interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for explaining just how easy it is to remove watermarks & metadata…I’m forwarding this to a friend who really doesn’t believe that. I would love to win so Hook Me Up!!!
count me in! having one would be just what I need! =D
I would love to have this plug-in!! Hook me up !! Please!! Thanks
hey thanks for the tip! I enjoy the new technology.
Thanks for everything you do! HOOK ME UP PLEASE!!!
Hi John! Watched the Digimark video..this is a great tool…hook me up! ( pretty please!)
Hey John This Is Karena Henson and I would love it if you HOOK ME UP I am new to all this, just a hobby that is taking me in a new direction one I enjoy and could use the hook up. Thank you
I so enjoy your blog!! Thank you for doing what you do!!!It is nice to see someone with such a passion!!
Love the blog! HOOK ME UP!!!
Always enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work!
…and hook me up for the contest too!!
Hook me up for the contest please. I never win anything and this would be wonderful. I’ve just been investigating how to watermark my photos so that I can put them on the web in contests & on my website. Love your blog – you share wonderful info and beautiful pictures!!
I’d love to win!!
I’d really like this! Hook me up
Hook Me Up, Please!!
I’m in!
Great offer. Hook me up please.
Hook me up!
This sounds way cool. Hook me up! Please.
Hey John just wanted to say Thanks Not only for the contest but for all the help you have given out on your Blog
Thanks again Greg
Oh Hook me Up
Just to cover my bases I am saying – Hook Me Up here as well as facebook. Thanks
I look forward to learning more about this
Golly, looks like a great idea, and a marvelous contest….so…. please hook me up John!!!
will this help me take better pictures like yours or is it just wishful thinking.
Please throw my name in the hat!
Awesome contest!
Great contest, hook me up, dude!
The main reasons for me adding my info to a picture are so it cannot be easily printed or shared without at least it carrying my business’ info in a visible way. This data watermarking won’t accomplish this, but I can see how it can be useful for tracking images via searches after they have been stolen; won’t help prevent printing as far as I can tell, nor will attribute readable credit to the author, but it’s not its intended purpose as I understand it.
Been using it for over two years and quite happy with it. Wish they had more MAC support tho…
I’d like to be hooked up, John.
Fingers crossed. (i like anything that is free!)
I want to win…no scratch that. I need to win a free Digimarc Professional Watermarking plug-in. Very cool technology and convenient.
This is what I need!!!
Photographically yours,
Manuella Lea Palmioli
Yes, please!
[...] There you have it. Tomorrow I’ll be announcing the winner of the Digimarc plug-in contest. If you haven’t entered make sure to do it today HERE. [...]
Ok John, see if this one posts.
Cheers! MrBill
Definitely interested in this@@@
Thank you John!!!!! Looking forward to it! I’m happy to be “hooked up”!
Congrats…I’m sure you’re going to love the Digimarc Plug-in. They’re great folks to work with too…
It is now next week.
Wednesday AM.
I’m at the bottom of the Digimarc comments.
Mesmerized by all the ‘..hook me up’ comments.
Then, discovered it happened LAST week.
BTW, just what was the origin of all those ‘HMU’s?
I will RSS.
Navigated from Photography Bay.
GW
Thank you for the information. – GREAT !
)
(I´d like very much… to have a free professional license
Greetings
and however:
Have a good time!
Gisa,
Thanks for the stopping by the blog and your kind comments…John
Thanks for the great article! This has been a concern of mine for a while, and I didn’t realize that it would really be that simple. Thanks again for the great article
Maggy,
No problem. If you ever have a question just let me know..take care, John
~I just found this link to your blog. Thanks for the article.(wish I would have found link a few months earlier) does discount from digimarc still apply? I am an artist and this is a concern shared with several other artists I know on how to tastefully watermark images – I have forwarded your link to them. I still am confused re: image can still be copied by right clicking even after digimarc? Thanks. G
[ps...I love the infrared photo of the hermitage!]
Gail,
I believe the code should still work. If not drop me a note and I’ll see what I can do for you. You can still copy the image by right clicking. The best way to avoid that is to use a service that disables that option. It’s a great product and has some nice tracking features. Let me know if you have any more questions..John