There are numerous discussions online about whether artists should use watermarks to protect photos of their artwork online in order to prevent unauthorized reproduction or theft of the artwork or to make sure anyone who sees the image knows that they created it. Here are just a few of the arguments for or against this practice.
2. Watermark Identifies the Artist
1. Watermarks are Removeable
There are apps out there that will remove watermarks in just a few clicks. If your watermark is toward the edge of the photo, it is even easier to remove. In no way, shape or form, does a simple watermark protect you. The only exception to this is a full image watermark, the kind that stock photography companies use to protect images. These are very difficult to remove completely.
2. You Don’t need a Watermark to Appear Professional
4. A Watermark Ruins the Composition and Visual Appeal of Your Artwork
If you are sharing your artwork online, you are likely doing so in order to achieve broader exposure for your work, build recognition for yourself and your work, and generate sales. In order to achieve these aims you want to show your art in its best possible light.
Have a great week,
Danielle
Arguments for the use of watermarks
1. Watermarks Prevent Someone from Stealing
It's fairly easy to steal images online. In most cases, all one needs to do is right click. Some believe that the digital watermark prevents this. 2. Watermark Identifies the Artist
There is also a marketing facet to the watermark. Making your work easily identifiable might help viewers find the artist and more of his or her artwork, especially if it gets shared around the Web.
Arguments against the use of watermarks
There are apps out there that will remove watermarks in just a few clicks. If your watermark is toward the edge of the photo, it is even easier to remove. In no way, shape or form, does a simple watermark protect you. The only exception to this is a full image watermark, the kind that stock photography companies use to protect images. These are very difficult to remove completely.
2. You Don’t need a Watermark to Appear Professional
The second reason many photographers use watermarks is that it makes them feel professional. In fact, a large poorly designed watermark is one of the things I see as a sign that an artist is just starting out. Having consistently high-quality work is what makes you appear professional.
In fact watermarks detracted from the quality of the artwork.
None of the watercolour masters watermark images of their paintings, yet their work is recognizable across the world.
3. Watermarks Hurt the Artist's Chances of Getting Published or Featured
Watermarks hinder the artist's opportunities for getting shared because they make it difficult for companies, blogs, and social media channels to feature your work. Watermarks are just plain ugly and go against the brand image that the artist is cultivating.
None of the watercolour masters watermark images of their paintings, yet their work is recognizable across the world.
3. Watermarks Hurt the Artist's Chances of Getting Published or Featured
Watermarks hinder the artist's opportunities for getting shared because they make it difficult for companies, blogs, and social media channels to feature your work. Watermarks are just plain ugly and go against the brand image that the artist is cultivating.
The decrease in appeal outweighs any protection an artist receives from a watermark. An important benefit of posting your art online is the increased exposure your work gets when it is shared. Viewers are less likely to share artwork that is watermarked.
You’ve carefully planned and composed your artwork. The watermark distracts from all of your efforts and the image will not look classy. Watermarks are even a little off-putting.
I don’t dismiss the threat of unauthorized use out of hand, the theft of intellectual property is a very real problem. I would argue, however, that a watermark is a pretty poor way to deal with the problem, and that watermarks defeat the purpose of sharing work online in the first place.
The majority of experts and professional artists in this area recommend against the use of watermarks.
The majority of experts and professional artists in this area recommend against the use of watermarks.
If you are sharing your artwork online, you are likely doing so in order to achieve broader exposure for your work, build recognition for yourself and your work, and generate sales. In order to achieve these aims you want to show your art in its best possible light.
If you are concerned about the unauthorized use of your image online, here are a few software to use.
- Google Image Search (free)
- TinEye.com (free & paid)
- ImageRaider (free & paid)
- Digimarc (paid)
Although it's probably not recommended that you search all of your photos, you might want to focus on those that are more valuable or newsworthy. Take into consideration that the likelihood of theft is pretty low, although I have have found artists who have copied my artwork online. At the end of the day, I'm not sure much harm has been done.
Instead of watermarks, you can add your copyright information to the metadata in your images. This metadata travels with your photo. You can also post lower resolution photos of your artwork to limit their use.
Here is the latest painting that I'm working on. I'm not sure if it is finished. What do you think? What title would you give it? I was thinking of "A Moment in Time" or "Gears and more Gears".
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| Title TBD - 17" X 21" |
If you're thinking that lots of hours went into creating this painting you are absolutely correct.
Have a great week,
Danielle
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