Checking on the status of Watermarking

[Mike Lane]

Last I heard this was being worked on, but I'd like to check on it again. Here's what would be great in my opinion. Allow us to upload a custom watermark and allow us to choose what size of image to display that watermark. The current "proof" is too obtrusive (I would make one that were a bit more transparent) and doesn't allow me to have my website address on it.

In a perfect situation (for me) this is what I'd be able to do. Upload the images, allow users to view small and medium photos without the watermark since they won't yield worthwhile prints anyhow, and embed a personalized watermark to the large and original sized images. That way you can print it if you want to, but that print (or desktop background or screensaver) will always have my website burned into it. Right now I don't even use the watermark and I only allow users to view the small and medium sized images, but I'd like them to be able to investigate the full sized images if they want.

Thoughts?
Mike

[Khaos]

I would love to have the preference in putting watermarks on only large and\or original size pics and have a degree of opacity to choose from.

[Bodley]

What is the status of having more watermark options which are more transparent and customizable than the current PROOF. Current PROOF tends to hide too much of the photo.

Greg

[BenV]

Add me to the list of inquisitors...

BenV

[Mac Write]

Add me to the list - as I just signed up a week ago. I don't want people stealing my photos (since they like to download the photos of ferries I take). I want to protect them to some degree. Maybe we should all invest in Digimarc then we can know who's using it.

[wanderingeye]

I like all of Mike's suggestions. It would be VERY uesful to have to ability to custom watermark larger images.

[Mac Write]

Another way to do it is to have a "Watermark Editor" in the CP where you enter the info you want on each image into a text box, as well as auto year copyrighting it based on year photo was taken. uploading a transparent background image (once for both portrait and landscape) would be also good for managing copyright. Then have a transparency setting per photo/gallery etc (using CSS) to tell how much to show it etc. Also in the CP you can set what sizes to put watermark on or which file to use (you may want mutliple styles of watermark different ones for each site, gallery etc).

[marlinspike]

Add me to the list of people who want to know the status of this as well. There is no upgrade that I rather have (and don't get me wrong, there are new features I would like, such as the undoable thumbnail upload so that I only have to post-process when an order is made, or to have print packages for sale, baseball card style prints, and some sort of nicer gifts (i.e. gifts that are nice enough they are expensive enough/quality enough to be actual gifts).
Richard

[Chase]

Sign me up for watermarking info as well. The proof too often makes it too difficult to truly tell what is in the image. :wxwax

[ktaylor]

Sign me up for watermarking info as well. The proof too often makes it too difficult to truly tell what is in the image. :wxwaxdon't forget to add me! I'm new to the whole smugmug/hosting pictures thing.. but i can tell that my photos can't be seen "that well" when the watermark is on top of it...my clients may not be able to tell if the picture is really good (in their eyes) or not.

[marlinspike]

Still no word on this? Not even an estimated year of arrival?
Richard