Tuesday, I explained How to Add Digital Watermarks to Original Images in answer to a question from mixed media artist, Deb Terry.Yesterday's post covered adding a Copyright Notice to your book, blog, and/or website.
Low Resolution ImagesWith Deb's kind permission, I'm using the flower and buds image she's currently working on to illustrate this point. The JPG image just above is how it appears on her blog. The top image shows how I was able to "steal" it from her blog and, within 5 minutes, remove the watermark and clean the JPG.
I could now use it to create high-quality derivative works. Of course, that would be illegal; but there are plenty of internet trolls who play the game of "catch me if you can". There are also people on the world wide web who honestly don't know that something they see online is not free for the taking.
As the lovely doodle art appears on Deb's blog, I found I could quadruple its size without any loss of quality! Both of the lower resolution images here have been reduced in file size so that they will become pixelated if stretched more than 25%.
Why is that? The original JPG on Deb's blog had too many pixels. Stretching the image spread those pixels further apart, but not enough to quickly degrade the image.
Throw out some of those pixels! To achieve that, save images at 72 psi and at medium to low quality. My rule of thumb is to limit the file size to around 50K.
Images for the web should be low resolution for at least two reasons:
1. So your pages load faster; and
2. To protect your original art from copyright infringement.
Have you ever caught someone stealing your copyrighted work? What did you do about it?
3 comments:
I have found my work out there being used by others. Sometimes just sending an email asking them to stop is enough, but other times I have had to resort to a cease and desist letter from an attorney, and a court date.
What I do find interesting is that, all too often people use the work without 1. asking, and 2. attribution.
There are certain circumstances that I am happy to allow someone to use my work for their profit. I have several charity events and groups that I allow to do that. But it does tick me off when I see someone use what I have created and representing it as their own.
I love being able to inspire someone, to encourage, and to promote their very own sense of creativity... that is truly one of the most fulfilling things I can think of. But to have my work represented as their own isn't fair, it's theft... there is a definite difference!
Thank you Eileen for taking the time to explain all this....I guess i worry if i use such a low psi people won't be able to see all the detail i've put in a picture......Hugs!deb
Thank you for the reminder, Eileen. I guess I've come to the conclusion that trolls are going to do what they're going to do, and there's not a lot I can do about it. I've had some friends who've been...if you can even believe it...ripped off my major RETAILERS! The good news is that most of them have won their suit. The bad news is that they had to go through the pain and expense of filing in the first place.
Post a Comment