Create the best watermark for your images using a free watermark creator

Creating a watermark using a watermark creator and putting it on your photos is a  common way to protect your images online. It is easy to create, applicable in seconds, and arguably one of the best deterrents to stop thieves from and using them without your consent.  It is easy to see why watermarking is used by professional and amateur photographers alike, as well as stock, photo libraries and everyone in between.

How Do You Make a Great Watermark Using a Free Watermark Creator?

The best watermarks strike a balance between doing its protective purpose while keeping the image beneath visible enough to still be recognized. Dynamic watermarks are an even better approach, as they allow you to modify your watermarks later.

This offers the opportunity to change branding or other details as and when you need them.

So how are you going to get it right? Here are the five key things you need to consider when creating your watermark using a free watermark creator.

• Opacity
• Positioning
• Size
• Clarity
• Style

Opacity

A watermark could be large enough to cover a huge part of the images. Even so, if it is created with suitable opacity, it could still manage to provide adequate protection without making a mess of the picture.

There is no right or wrong here – much of it relies on the photo itself – even though a watermark that is less than entirely opaque is usually preferred, it gives a better chance of working in harmony with the picture.

Preferably, the watermark should be visible without distracting attention from the contents of the image itself. That is why it is better to use a watermark that’s free of any color or anything that’s too eye-catching.

Positioning

Are you supposed to place your watermark across the center of the image or in the corner? Or maybe the top or the bottom of it? Again, there is no general rule here; the photo itself should determine this.

If we assume that the watermark is primarily intended to protect the image from theft, the watermark should be arranged over an area from which it would be difficult to remove. So, a busy part of the photo with gradually changing tones or varying details, for instance, rather than a smooth, flat region of blue skies or a layer of pure white.

How Secure Is It?

Most people with even simple image editing skills would be able to eliminate a watermark from a little detail area. Still, they would be less successful if this were to be done over complex architecture, machinery, fabrics, or anything else that is often changing in appearance.

As a significant element of the photo is likely to be somewhere in the center of the frame, a lot of photographers choose to place the watermark here to provide adequate protection. You may wish to always put a watermark in a particular part of the image to maintain consistency.

Size

Photographers appear to be divided into two camps when it comes to how much of a watermark image they should occupy.
A watermark can be used over the entire image and still work well, provided that its opacity is relatively low.

On the other hand, a watermark can hardly be seen. As long as it is carefully placed over a part of the image where its removal would be really obvious, it may still prove to be a sufficient deterrent to the thieves.

Clarity

How visible should your watermark logo be?

• There are two schools of thought on this issue;
• one camp prefers a bold watermark that ensures the visibility of the photographer’s name,
• while the other side prefers a watermark embedded in the picture.

While there needs to be a balance between guarding the image and showcasing the picture, a bold watermark makes it less attractive to thieves while also promoting the photographer and/or their website.

On the other hand, while a watermark embedded inside the picture does not provide adequate protection, it does allow visibility of the image.   It also reduces the risk of a watermark removal, making it easier to verify the owner.

Most photographers prefer a visible watermark.  Whatever you chose, it is vital to ensure that your name or website is as readable as possible; so that, if stolen, your photos are easily recognizable.  Proving an image is yours is a lot easier if you use a free watermark creator with your brand on it.

 

Style

While a lot of photographers will opt to have their name and website as their watermark, some are already happy enough to use a free watermark creator to put a copyright symbol or a faint pattern over the entire image.

While this could make ownership a challenge to prove in the event of image theft, it might still prove to be enough of a deterrent to lessen the chance of this needing to be handled.

Final Thoughts

A lot of photographers want to proudly show off their work, and a well-thought watermark lets them do just that without the fear of image theft.

While your photos may well end up being seen by those who intend to steal them, bear in mind that most of the people who view it will be keen to appreciate the photo itself.

That makes it even more critical to carefully analyze just how any sort of watermark will affect it. Next, check out which font is best to use for your watermark.