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meels

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How to add a "film" to protect digital images?

Hi,

I have attempted to protect the images from this web site from being stolen/printed but I'm wondering if any of you see a way for a user/customer to still copy the images from this site.  The right-click has been disabled and users are not authorized to view the list of image files.  This photographer asked me if I added a "film" to these images so people can't print them clearly.  I don't know what he is talking about.  Do you?  The web site I'm trying to protect is http://michaelsactionart.com.

Appreciate suggestions for protecting digital images.

Thanks,
Amelia
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chakaal

If it is visible on a screen it can be captured, if not by right-click viewing then via screen grab if someone cares enough to bother.  If he doesn't want his images captured and printed then his best bet is to not make them big enough to be worth printing out.  Of course it makes the product less compelling too.

Some software will embed a watermark in an image.  He could also embed some other form of modification to make the image un-appealing for print out, such as he's done with the URL" in big letters, diagonally, across the image. Making these a totally clashing color will uglify it nicely.  A BW print, though, won't show the dastardly color...

 That will let the image be big enough to give a good idea of quality, but not as nice to copy and print.

As long as people have screen capture there's no real way to prevent printing out what is on the screen - just making it less appealing.
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ASKER

yeah, i knew the right-click wasn't enough to prevent people from grabbing the image.  i added the url on top of the thumbnail images but my customer doesn't want it covering up the art.  he wants me to post larger versions which will be behind clickable thumbnails but i wanted to know how i could do this, without covering up the image with the obvious url stamp, and letting the shopper take a good look at his work.  

i specifically heard about a photographer using something called a "film" on top of a digital image which supposedly made the image look horrible when it was printed.  it would be imperceptible though online.  i was just wondering if someone specifically knew what that could be.  reading here online and surfing the web makes it sounds like the only way to protect an image is not to post it online or possibly trying digimarc.  it is starting to sound like there still is no way to protect digital images from being stolen/printed?

thanks,
meels
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Lobo042399

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Lobo,

I like the corbis emboss.  I created an emboss copyright symbol I like and automated it in Photoshop.  I also made up a "film" by creating a white layer, reduced the opacity and also applied a gradient layer to the black and white prints.  Here is an example:

http://michaelsactionart.com/media/more/lohtse-big.jpg - color print
http://michaelsactionart.com/media/more/eastwood-big.jpg - b&w print

I guess these will work. I tried to make it hazy but hopefully they are still good enough for a customer to get an idea of what they're purchasing.  On the pages where these will be displayed I will include a disclaimer that these web images do not look like the "real thing".  Well, something to that effect.  What do you think?

Meels
Hi meels,

The images look good to me. In addition to the "watered down" version you may want to add a small thumbnail kinda image, small enough to make it unusable, with the right colours in it; or maybe a cropped version, like a small swatch. I personally would prefer to see the actual colours before purchasing anything, to make sure that what I'm paying for is indeed what I need.

Good Vibes!

Lobo
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ASKER

yeah, i thought about that.  the thumbnail is on the actual products page but do you think i should put it right next to the enlarged version?  for example, if you look at this page http://michaelsactionart.com/motocross.htm you'll see the product thumbnails.  from there you click the thumbnail to get the enlarged version.  

appreciate your help lobo,
meels
Hi Meels,

Those look good, yep. Great work!

Good Vibes,

Lobo
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ASKER

Thanks Lobo.  I just awarded you the points.  
Cheers,
Meels
Hey Meels,

Thankd for the points. Glad I cold help.

Good Vibes!

Lobo