Watermark On Our Works

on top of that, when I try to Edit my image and enable/disable watermark - the option doesnt bring any results. It stays the same way when I uploaded the image.

I know that sometimes it takes a few refreshes of your browser for the changes to show up.

Lara, some people say it has to be set when you upload your work. But why then the option to change it lated?

it's been brought up many many times and as of yet, no. one issue is that there isn't just fine art america, there is also europe, australia, hisptaprints pixels, etc. there must be like 80 of them. and it would be confusing. it would be nice if it had our name on it though. however i don't like the look of any and you may chase customers away because you have them there.


---Mike Savad

What you say sounds like a good idea. As for editing I was able to change it. Like with all changes you have to refresh the browser to see it. What I could not get rid of was the watermark on the small square thumbnails. At least some of mine still have them, although I don't use a watermark anymore.
Many years ago when I did slide shows I learned something about initial impact. You have a fraction of a second to either wow people with an image or lose them. I don't see how it is possible to wow anyone with a watermark. Same with obtrusive signatures. Hard to impress people with an image when they are reading ads and disclaimers. This is an extremely competitive business and if you can gain an edge it can snowball into regular sales. If you lose the edge you can sink or never catch on. I probably have more to lose than most because I make most of my living licensing. Even though my stock images for 900 px can sell for over a hundred dollars, I do not believe I lose a penny of revenue from illegal use.

I've tried refreshing the browser and clearing the cache after enabling the watermark, but it hasn't worked.

I've avoided the watermark like the plague, but I'm tired of my images being stolen from this site. The most recent theft has resulted in someone selling canvas versions of my images on their website. It's one thing to see my images on a blog, but it's a whole different ball game when people start making money off my hard work. I have seen plenty of sales here with the watermark, so I am going to quit worrying about it deterring buyers.

@Jaroslaw, As far as I know, once you have uploaded with a watermark the only way is to contact tech. support and they can remove all of them for you. You can only opt with or without watermark when you are uploading new work, it will not change existing images.

I'm with Amy. I don't mind being clipped for blogs - but when I see my images being sold on other sites - it gets me pretty darned peeved.

Watermark on - let them work for it like I did.

Agreed, Janine! Wish I would have utilized the watermark sooner...

Almost all my work is watermarked but they will crop it off or us it or even try to sell it with the watermark

on so just using the watermark will not stop that..Having said that I will still us the watermark. You

have to re-upload or Send a ticket to Abbie in support using the Contact Us Link under About...when

she is available she can add the watermark or even move those for anyone...but again when she is available.

Maybe a way to give the information for the potntial clients that the watermark wont appear on the final print? Unfortunately people don't read more than what they see.

Thats why i said, maybe istead of FineartsAmerica, maybe just the phrase "This writing won't appear on your print", but in the other hand - if the one who steal don't care much, and crop it or sell it with watermark, maybe it is like neverending battle?

I think people worry so much about others using their images that they sabatoge their own careers.

Well stated, Bradford. Naturally, I'm with you on that one!

Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

I have had all my musical pieces and some others stolen from this site along with my bio and they are all being reproduced in oils in China and sold via the Ali Baba site. There are multiple companies who do this and if I find my work on one I write and tell them to take them down which they do but then a few weeks or months later they are back up again. I'm sure watermarking makes no difference as they just paint them out when they copy them. It's really irritating to think they can get away with it.

So it means we just have to accept it as a part of internet rules and live with it. The only good thing is the quality they offer are crappy since it is made from a "thumbnail" . Maybe the size of the presented work should be smaller. It might be irritation somebody makes money on your hard work as Amy wrote.

Amy......... I have also tried today to add the watermark but the watermark will not appear even after refreshing it a dozen times. I emailed support on this issue but no response yet. I have just begun to add my own watermark on them which is time consuming.

If anyone sees any of my digital art out there (stolen of course - because I haven't sold but one in the last two years) please let me know - I'll send them a thank you letter for being that interested.

and I agree with Dan and Bradford about the watermarking - although this isn't much of a "career" for me.

"I know many potential buyers think that if they see that watermark on our works it means they will get it also on the printed work".



WOW! In 2014?

Ricardo, you would be amazed how many ask. Most don't even know what a watermark is.

there are artists that aren't sure about the watermark not printing on the final piece. and then there are the photographers who put it on themselves - in that case it would print on the finished piece. but yeah, there are plenty of people who don't understand the watermark thing, artists included.

---Mike Savad

"I think people worry so much about others using their images that they sabatoge their own careers."

That really rubs me the wrong way. I spend A LOT of money and time shooting and editing my work, so when I see someone else SELLING it, gee, why wouldn't I worry about it? Why should I be concerned about "sabotaging" my career, when there are plenty of people/thieves out there already doing it for me? I also have images on book covers, and it's starting to become the norm to see stolen images there, too. Guess what... that is money NOT going in my pocket. I don't shoot stock, and my images aren't cranked out, one after the other. I spend money on props, software, camera equipment, etc., and I spend hours on each piece. My work provides income to me, but it also MEANS something to me. Seeing someone else using it (especially for profit) really pisses me off. I'm not naïve. I realize image theft is inevitable. However, I don't have to stand by and just give people my images. The watermark may or may not work, but I've decided it's time to do SOMETHING. I can't make personal changes to this website to better the situation, so I will use what is available for now. As I stated earlier, I see plenty of sales with the watermark enabled, so I'm no longer convinced it hurts the image and any subsequent sales.

Oh gosh. Here we go again?

Get ready, Jaroslaw, Janine, and Amy. There are those here among us that believe that there is little we may do to prevent theft of our images. They say things like, “Just don't worry about it”.

“Why should I be concerned about "sabotaging" my career, when there are plenty of people/thieves out there already doing it for me?”

I agree, Amy. But until we can get more people to stop listening to the “Just don't worry about it” line of reasoning, the task will continue to be extremely difficult.

I am going to give the idea of watermarks on my images more thought.

Walter, as far as the "just don't worry about it” mindset, I guess it boils down to how much artists/photographers value their work. I haven't been using the watermark here but have had a change of heart... especially after seeing so many selling with the watermark enabled.

Whether watermarks help, hurt or do neither becomes irrelevant in the face of frustration and anger. In Amy's case, adding the watermark will make her feel better, and that can't be discounted. Whatever she or anyone else decides to do regarding watermarks doesn't affect anyone else.

Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

OK Amy your still lifes are original art and my oil rig photos that are among the best in the world and cost me thousands to produce are crank em out stock that I don't value.

Bradford, you're taking my post out of context. I was explaining MY feelings about MY work... explaining my work flow. I wasn't comparing to or diminishing stock photos. I have no clue what you shoot. I also have no clue how you feel about your work, but if you do stock, I'm sure the word "sentimental" isn't really in your vocabulary, when describing how you feel about your images. Or maybe I'm wrong... maybe oil rigs do give you that fuzzy feeling. I don't think protecting my work, even if it's just a little, is going to sabotage my career. I care about where my images end up, especially the work that isn't created for book covers, but rather, for personal sale. Your seemingly lackadaisical attitude about image theft might lead others to believe you don't value your work AS MUCH. There are different levels of value, thus our different outlooks and methodologies. I really don't care to argue about it. Just didn't appreciate your initial comment, especially since I found my work being sold here http://rosehome.ro/produs/tablou-canvas-carafa/ and have two stolen images on book covers I haven't been compensated for... all discovered this week, and all swiped from FAA. You don't mind working for free?

Dan, adding a watermark doesn't give a complete sense of relief, as I know there are ways around that, too. Maybe it can be compared to watering down the edge of your house on the brink of a major bush fire. That helpless feeling of doing something is just innate, I guess.

"WOW! In 2014?"

Well I think the state in edit options "Watermarks may discourage visitors from purchasing your artwork". is added for a reason.

I do believe there are many people who still think that logo is a part of the final composition.

Have a nice Easter everybody!

Happy Easter, Jarek! :)