PRO ACCOUNTS: Suzanne Offner and Inta
BASIC ACCOUNT: Chris Ranney
If you’ve been following my blog for a while then you know I’m not a huge fan of visible watermarking on my images. I think watermarks can serve as a useful technique for creating brand awareness, especially when ownership is not obvious, but often times this comes at the cost of aesthetics. My recommendation is to always use visible watermarks judiciously to avoid overpowering the image and only when trying to create brand awareness. Never use huge watermarks or overly complicated graphics. Most importantly, avoid making the watermark an element of the image (e.g. the photographer’s name curly around a flagpole) — it’s just cheesy!
Protecting your work:
The number one reason most people want to watermark their images is to provide some sort of anti-theft deterent. It’s true, a very large watermark that covers a large portion of your image might deter someone from stealing your image online. But, remember, our goal isn’t to display our watermark, it’s to display our art!
To truly deter image theft I always recommend the following:
1. Re-size your image for your blog or online portfolio. I typically use a width setting of 500 to 750 pixels depending on the image with a resolution of no more than 72 pixels. This makes it more difficult for a thief to create a high quality reproduction.
2. Always make sure all copyright info is exported as part of the meta data.
3. Use Digimarc to digitally embed your watermark into the image. This is critical because metadata can be stripped out of an image, but Digimarc is to images what ADT is to home security.
4. For brand awareness, discreetly place your graphic or text watermark in a corner (small but visible)
Contest:
Digimarc has been gracious enough to give away two professional and one basic one-year service subscriptions. All you need to do is leave your name below with a comment like, “Help me protect my images,” “Thanks Digimarc,” or “Digimark rocks!” You get the drift. Next Friday, we’ll be randomly drawing four names from the list of comments.
Rules:
1. We will have three names drawn from the comment section of today’s post. Please only enter once but spread the word because it’s good Karma!
2. Remember to fill out the comment section with your name and your email or I have no way of notifying you if you’ve won. I am only drawing from the comments section on the blog, NOT Facebook, so make sure to leave your comment here!
3. The giveaway runs from July 20th through July 27th with the winners announced on July 30th.
4.If you have previously purchased Digimarc using the discount code (see below) then you’ll either receive a refund or have the option to have a year added for free.
Discount code:
In case giving away the subscriptions wasn’t enough, Digimarc is also giving a 30% discount to all my readers when you use the discount code batdorff during the checkout phase. (Note: The discount code is case sensitive, so keep it all lowercase.) Feel free to use the code during the contest, and if your name is drawn then you’ll receive a full refund or have the option of having a year added on to your service at no cost. Basically, it’s a win/win!
Learn more about Digimarc:
To learn more about Digimarc feel free to check out my video from last year’s promotion or read more about them from last year’s post.
Remember, leave a comment below and I wish everyone the very best. Good luck, John
Get new “Digimatic”….It slices, it dices, it does it all!!..Oh yeah, it also protects your images…..
Help me protect my images
Close comments now so I can keep my 1:3 odds!
Digimark rocks! I’d love to have this subscription!!
Digimarc to mark your work!
Digimarc rocks my sox !
Digimarc Rocks! Way Cool!
Yes, please!
Digimarc is the only way to professionally watermark your images.
Thank you Digimarc and thank you, John. You are a true buddy!
I’ve been thinking about investing in a Digimarc subscription, would love to start out for free.
Digimarc is just what I need to protect my images!
I would Dig some Digimarc ! Thank you
Digimarc my images, please
Help me protect my images.
Golly, I sure should Digimarc !!
Help me protect my images. Thanks Digimarc
I love the ease of use of Digimarc, it is the only professional Watermark I need to use. Thank you Digimarc your software really does provide the best solution.
Have been using Digimarc for over a year now & love it! It’s truly a professional way to protect and promote. Thank you Digimarc, thanks John!
My images need protection!!!
Thank you Digimarc for this offer.
My images need Digimarc protection.
I have been wanting to purchase this but, have been suffering from starving artist syndrom.
Been using Digimarc for 2yrs now and love how quick it is whilst not ruining the image. About the only thing that would impove it is if they produced a Lightroom PlugIn to save me having to launch Photoshop for those images that need no PS work.
Have heard only great things about Digimarc, would love to try this out to protect my images. THANKS for the Contest.
Great idea, sign me up Digimarc.
thank you Digimarc
Digimarc rocks my rocky bits! Gimme that sub pleeeease