Does it make sense to add a watermark to your photos?
If you are wondering why you should add a watermark to photos before uploading them online, keep in mind that it is important that the copyright of the photo remains intact so that others know who created it and have permission to use it. Moreover, it is advisable to add a watermark to photos because it helps with your branding efforts.
This article will discuss what a watermark is and why you should start adding one to your photos.
What is a Watermark?
A watermark is simply a visual mark that appears on your photos. Usually, it is some form of text but it can be anything really, shapes or even graphics. Watermarks are usually semi-transparent so they can blend into the background of the photo instead of drawing attention away from it.
They are placed onto images to protect copyright, prevent image theft, and for branding purposes. A watermark is often included in the bottom right-hand corner of your image. It can also be placed on other parts of the photo such as above or below, to the side, vertically, or even diagonally. You’re free to do what you like with it!
Are There Free Tools That Allow You to Add a Watermark to Photos?
There are many free online tools that allow you to add a watermark to photos. For the purpose of this article, we’ll be using Watermarquee, a free watermarking tool that allows you to add a watermark to your photos right on your browser. That’s right, no downloading of apps is needed. It allows you to customize and design your own shapes, create text, choose fonts, and even adjust the opacity of your watermark.
Watermarquee also has some pre-made templates that you can choose from for your watermark.
The Steps: How to Add a Watermark to Photos Online
Step 1: Upload Your Photo on Watermarquee.com
First, go to the website and upload your photo onto the site by dragging and dropping it or clicking “Select Photos to Watermark”.
Step 2: Create Your Watermark
Once you’ve added the photo, start customizing it by selecting a shape and font for your watermark. You can also change the size of your watermark if you’d like. It also allows you to move your watermark around by clicking and dragging it where you want it. Adjust its opacity by sliding the menu to correspond to how transparent you want your watermark.
Step 3: Save Your File
Once you’re done, click the “Save” button and it will create a watermark with your image. There are also options to save as PNG or JPEG images.
Should You Add a Watermark to Your Photos?
Watermarks can be very effective at stopping people from stealing your photos and using them on their social networks or websites. They are discreet most of the time so there’s no need to worry about it taking away the attention from your photo. These days, a watermark is an essential part of any photographer’s repertoire.
The large majority of copyrighted images you see on social media sites have watermarks added to them. This is because copyrights have become more important since it has become easier for people to take pictures with mobile cameras and share them online in seconds. By adding a watermark you’ll stand out among all the other bloggers/photographers who don’t use one.
Why You Should Add a Watermark Before Uploading Your Photos Online
A lot of people choose to add a watermark after they’ve uploaded their photos online and it’s too late. The text is often barely visible or unreadable because the image has been scaled down from its normal size for upload.
A small but perfectly legible watermark can be added at any point before uploading your photo, whether you’re posting it on your blog, or just sharing it with friends via Facebook. It won’t take long and will give you peace of mind knowing that someone hasn’t bypassed all of your hard work by cropping your watermark off of an image then using it elsewhere for their own benefit.
If someone steals your photo and adds their own watermark to it, you can easily see that they’ve done this. You’ll have proof that it was them who took the image and used it for their own benefit without permission or payment because you’ll still be able to see your original watermark on the image.
All images should always contain a copyright statement and people should not be able to steal photos from you, as there is no way of knowing whether an image online has been stolen. Before uploading your photos online you should always add a watermark so you know they are safe from theft if anyone decides to use them for their own interests without permission or payment.
Types of Digital Photos that Could Benefit from Adding a Watermark
The images you are storing and sharing online could be any number of things. You might have taken a landscape photo on your phone that you intend to use for your blog, or if you’re like me – you’ll probably want to share your work with anyone who happens to stumble across it and click through all of your photos! Either way, there is no need for strangers or “fans” of photography to use one of these photos without permission.
If you add a watermark at the time the image is captured means that once it’s uploaded onto the internet its safe from theft, unless someone decides they want to take their own copy and remove it but will still show up as being owned by you in case anyone else takes an interest in using them for their own needs.
You should always be careful about who sees your work and what you share online, as the internet is a very public place and although some people will use photos like this digitally there are others out there who might want to steal them for their own uses.
Conclusion:
Add a watermark to photos to protect your intellectual property and make sure that no one can claim the originality of any photo you upload. Adding a logo or text onto your digital images is an essential step in protecting them from being stolen by others for their own gain, but it’s important to choose the right type of watermark before adding it to your work.
