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To watermark or not to watermark...

post #1 of 36
7/26/07 at 8:29am
Thread Starter 
I'm working on my website and still undecided as to whether or not to watermark each photo. Don't get me wrong - I have no objection to anyone copying what I've made or using a photo for reference (after all, how did we all learn?) but I _do_ object to someone lifting a photo of my work and presenting it as their own. My web person thinks that a watermark will detract from my work (I don't necessarily agree) and that if someone is determined enough to use the picture, they'll find a way (unfortunately, I agree with her there). Am I being paranoid? Sorry this was so long!
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post #2 of 36
7/26/07 at 8:36am
I have seen alot of watermarks used on this site and none of them are distracting to me. They are so light it seems as though they are a shadow in the bavkround. I say, they are your pics, do what you wish.. Good luck! thumbs_up.gif

BTW- can't wait to see some of yours!
Diet is a 4 letter word. So is cake. I choose cake!!



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Diet is a 4 letter word. So is cake. I choose cake!!



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post #3 of 36
7/26/07 at 8:37am
I would! Unfortunately I lost ALL of my cake photos when our laptop crashed. I know I should have backed them up. Hard lesson learned. I don't think that anyone will be heisting my pics once I do get some up but it isn't a bad idea at all.

Elle
Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do!
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Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do!
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post #4 of 36
7/26/07 at 8:47am
I would use the watermark. Unfortunately, as we've learned many times on this site, either not all people are as ethical as we are (or maybe they are icon_twisted.gif ), or they do borrow the photos innocently enough, but sometimes still don't remember to give credit or remember to say it wasn't their work.

Yes, if a person is truly determined they can work around the watermark, but then they have to put in that time and effort, so using the watermark is definitely deterrent. I'm sure if someone wants to lift a couple of photos and some are watermarked and some aren't, they'd more readily go for the unmarked photos.

JMHO
-Grace

"Shades of grey wherever I go;
The more I find out the less that I know."
- Billy Joel
"What color's the icing in your world?" - Me
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-Grace

"Shades of grey wherever I go;
The more I find out the less that I know."
- Billy Joel
"What color's the icing in your world?" - Me
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post #5 of 36
7/26/07 at 8:48am
glad to see someone has asked this question...i like the watermark because it does "deter" from people lifting your image, but i know some people disagree with the watermark. i have been playing with mine trying to get it to be smaller...it's probably way too big right now...
oniro- i agree it's a compliment to have someone use one of my cakes as inspiration (or I think to even have someone attempt to copy it!) I did have someone tell me to remove my watermark because he/she said that is why no one is commenting on my photos. ironically, she commented icon_smile.gif i think the watermark is just a matter of opinion, but might be important on a website.
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post #6 of 36
7/26/07 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 
Thank you all! Now I'm not feeling quite so paranoid. I tried posting a picture in the cookies gallery but I'm using a Mac & Safari, which apparently doesn't work in the gallery - I'm going to try posting a picture with this reply (I have a halloween order and Frankenstein's eyes are already perplexing me...still working on it)! Apologies if it doesn't work (or if I'm not supposed to do this here...).
LL
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post #7 of 36
7/26/07 at 10:58am
Oniro, I really like those cookies!
The pessimist complains about the wind;
the optimist expects it to change;
the realist adjusts the sails.
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The pessimist complains about the wind;
the optimist expects it to change;
the realist adjusts the sails.
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post #8 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:13am
I dont like watermarks.... i know why people use them but come on.... if you are going to do one make it simple. Like a real watermark...barely discernable. The whole point of a watermark is that you don't know it is there unless someone looks for it! I can live with the ones where it is faint or looks like it is pressed into the pictures. But your name blazoned all the way across your picture in startling array of colors....geesh! It is distracting and makes the cake look bad!
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post #9 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:14am
Those are great cookies BTW!



FYI somebody could "lift" that picture too.
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post #10 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:17am
Oniro - I have a Mac and use Safari. What trouble are you having in the gallery? If you're able to post a pic here, you should be able to upload there, too!

Amazing cookies, by the way!
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post #11 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:20am
I watermark all of my stuff on my website. People still say that they think my cakes are wonderful with the watermark on them. I also only have them at a 72dpi for the whole copying and stealing reason and uploading reason.

I have only had one person tell me they couldn't see my cakes very well (a fellow cake decorator). I told her that I had it is not in the best resolution because if I had it in the best resolution people that are on dial-up would be waiting for ever, plus, it detracts people from stealing my photo's.

I have only been in business 1 year and am getting orders for cakes from 75+ miles away. Personally, the watermark hasn't distracted people from ordering cakes from me...

Sorry so long......
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post #12 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:24am
I recently had a friend add watermarks to some of my pictures- and I hated it. Maybe he just did a poor job, but it was the FIRST THING your eyes went to on the pics. I had him remove them all.

I know there are people out there that are going to lift other people's pics and pass them off as their own, but I've decided having good pics is worth the risk, at least for me.
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post #13 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:31am
See TPDC I don't mind you watermark so much cuz it is mostly see through.... Here are a couple others that I think are good....

Solid but not blocking the photo
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_828703.html

Solid but still classy http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo-5780.html

I was curious and am doing a survey of well known cake decorators to see if the watermark their photos... so far debbie brown and Colette Peters are no.
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post #14 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:35am
Duff goldman - NO

Rebecca Sutterby - Yes but done very nicely and classy, not blocking the cake! http://www.sugarcreations.com/gallery1.htm
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My "fan" page on facebook! Please join me!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Martha-The-Cake-Lady/333831494285?ref=ts
www.marthathecakelady.com

This is my family site:
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post #15 of 36
7/26/07 at 11:43am
Thank you marthajo1. I do agree that some watermarks are overdone, I know mine when I first started were/are overdone. They are not light enough, but one person only has so much time....

Here is something I am curious about with the big time decorators:
Do you think they don't watermark because they have someone that looks for copied pictures of theirs online? I know it sounds dumb, but it is just a question. Or, is it because they are big time decorators that it really doesn't matter to them because people know their name and they are going to go to them for their cake anyway?

Interesting.....
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