Getting Rid Of Watermarks

Refresh your page... Not seeing watermarks on the two I looked at

I just sold another one with a watermark.

No Abbie, only a couple retain it. Thanks for your reply.

Edward, great, that takes a little of the stress off me.

The one I sold had been pinned 66 times. The watermark is the breadcrumb that tells people where to buy it in case the link gets removed. IMO.

I'm with Edward on this one. I think their effect on sales is greatly exaggerated on this board. Just in case someone doesn't understand, I post notices in every gallery description and every image description saying they won't be on purchased products. (I don't know why FAA doesn't automatically post that under every watermarked image, it would solve everyone's problem with one line of code!) In one year I've sold more images with watermarks here than I sold without watermarks in 10 years on Shutterfly Pro-Galleries. So they haven't hurt me one bit.

I can't say one way or another about the negative effect it may have. I do not believe it is a big enough reason to be caught up on. Small potatoes in the general scheme of things and another one of those discussions that is never ending and full of personal opinions.

If things are not selling it may be because of the work itself, the more effectual marketing techniques not being used, and a misunderstanding of how long it takes to build a name and reputation in this business.

I don't think that spending tons of time inwardly on this Fine Art America mother site is the place to be spending all or even a great deal of one's time.

Just another opinion...

Shirley, I had the same problem a while ago when I decided to remove my watermarks. In the end, I asked for Abbie's help and she very kindly removed them all for me.

And did you suddenly see a surge in sales?

Nope :(

I'd put watermarks on the bottom of a list of "reasons why I'm not selling".

Edward did you see a decrease in image theft with the watermark on?

I personally don't use them because it detracts from the composition and impact. I am trying to create a desire and I don't see how that is going to help? And what would be worse is having disclaimers like "watermark does not appear". Another distraction from the impulse to buy.

Besides that I am really tired of answering that question directly to those who view my site. Its almost the first or second thing people say after they look. That's if they even bother to ask.
So maybe I lose some sales by those that don't know it comes off. That's not why I don't use them.

Lost sales may be few but losses to image infringement are about non-existent.( I have constant traffic on some of my galleries for 17 years). If seeing your work used by some blogger is going to eat you then by all means use a watermark.

I don't care if anyone uses them or not. I just care about people focusing on them thinking that they are the reason their work isn't selling.

Thanks for all the responses. I know watermarks are a big topic. I only needed to know how to remove them. I used to use them but have decided not to. My paintings are not exactly jumping off the shelf, with or without them. I'm still working hard on this site though. I just need some designers to see my work. I'm working towards that.

I used the FAA watermarks for awhile, then removed all of them. Still, in one of my images, the Watermark appears only in the thumbnail. Strange.

In any event, awhile back I began adding a signature to my work. As we are unable to send a personal message to purchasers whenever we make a sale, I feel as if my signature personalizes my work.

Do buyers want it personalized or do they want a pretty picture on their wall?

I am disappointed that this wasn't the thread that finally settled the watermark debate though

That's what I'm talking about Suzanne, I still can't get rid of some of the watermarks on a few thumbnails. I have re uploaded, refreshed and still there. No matter though, it's just a few.

As far as signatures on photographs, I love a pencil signature on the mat with the name of the photo there too. Since there is no mat to sign, I like the photo to be signed with the photographers name. Don't use a sharpie though, use an archival pen. That's just my opinion though.

I am a watercolorist. I sign my paintings, sometimes in ink and sometimes in pencil, right on the painting. I like it to be small and inconspicuous.