Securing online content and images

[Hippy]

Securing online content and images can it be done ?

The Internet is a great visual tool for displaying artwork and photos. However, because the source code for Web pages is easily accessible, there is no tried and true method to completely secure your copyright-protected work on the Internet,
other than not posting them,
any more than you can prohibit people from photocopying text in a book.
I've seen a variety of ways that people have used to block stealing of photos and artwork that are posted in Web pages.
One way is to disable the right-click,
another is to replace the good image with a bogus image on mouseover.
Both of these ways, at best, slow a visitor down.
Let me explain why each of these do not provide a good level of security for your online content and images.
Disabling right click I've seen many requests from people for script that disables the right-click on their Web pages.
Very often, someone has seen this on another Web site and thought it was a good idea for securing their own artwork or photos.
However, although a visitor doesn't have access to the right click for the page displayed, they generally do have access to the menu bar, and on the View menu, there is a Source option that allows people to open up the source code in a text editor, such as Notepad.
You may think that the source code isn't going to help them much, but it does. For example, say the following HTML code is in one of your pages, and this displays a photo that you took and are selling on your Web site.
<.img src="awardwinningphoto.jpg".>Viewing the source gives the visitor the name of the image file, and the path to the Web page gives the visitor the rest. So, say for example the path to the page where the above HTML occurs is "http://www.cohowinery.com/html/awardwinningphoto..htmAll someone needs to do is open up the file "http://www.cohowinery.com/html/awardwinningphoto.jpg in the browser, and once they view it in the browser, they can right-click on it and choose Save Picture As. Replace Image on Mouseover Another trick that Web designers and developers use to prohibit stealing of artwork and photos is to replace one image with another image when the visitor mouses over it. This also would seem to be great for securing online images. After all, if they can't right-click on the image and choose Save Picture As, they can't steal the image, right? However, as with the right-click, the best this does is slow them down. If someone really wants to steal an image, they can easily view the source and get the filename and path to the image, and do what I described above.
Then how can I secure my images?

Many Web designers and developer would answer that question by saying to not post the images, but if you make your living out of selling your photos or paintings, this may not be an option for you, so there are a few things that you can do.

Post lower quality graphics.

When someone tries to steal an image, they won't get a great quality picture, just a representation of what the image looks like. If they attempt to enlarge it, the quality will be poor enough to discourage even the most determined. Use a digital copyright. A digital copyright acts as a digital signature, and as with digital signatures, you need to purchase a digital copyright and use a graphics application to add it to your images. I'm no expert on this, so I won't even attempt to explain how it works or how to do it. Take a look at resources on line from experts if you're interested in using a digital copyright for your online content and images. If I understand this correctly, a digital copyright doesn't print but provides a legally binding way for you to recover loses if someone appropriates your intellectual property. Use a watermark on the image. A watermark is a usually text overlayed on top of an image, perhaps a copyright symbol, your name and the date. It will certainly discourage people from taking images, but it can also disfigure an image to the point where it may not be distinguishable. This option is my least favorite of the three. Why? If I want to print out a picture to see if it goes with my favorite bedspread or the couch in the den, the watermark disfigures the image to the point where printing it will not give me a good idea of whether the picture will work for me or not, making me far less likely to buy the finished product because I don't know if it's exactly right for what I want.While the information age does bring new problems and opportunities for people to cause harm, as you decide what is best for displaying your artwork, photos, and other online content, keep in mind that most who come to your site are just there to browse and perhaps shop and buy. Consider how you want people to use your site and provide needed security without inhibiting how visitors will use your site.

[Snow Wolf]

Like Angella said I state that i did not create all the images but give credit to whom ever did make them if i know whom they were and all i ever state on sites that i post my creations on, I state that I only claim my creation as a whole/theme but again i give credit where credit is due, the only thing i dont agree on is someone taking an image that someone created as a whole and putting their name over the name of the persons name that is on the image when you can clearly see what they did and that person tells everyone they can do what ever they want to an image even tho they knew it was not their creation, So In turn I believe the person whom had their image altered this way has every right to be upset, but yes it is true that we can not truly have a copywrite on our creations but as a whole when it is finished and we worked hard on some of them I would be pissed as well if this happened to mine I dont care what anyone says even tho i didnt create everything that went into my creations, it is still disheartening to see someone cover up the name of who created it as a whole with their name, But we have a right to put our name on our creations as a whole and if someone thinks otherwise oh well, just my opinion

[Hippy]

creator unknown .

[Livita]

My creations are made with English and French tutorials. I start with a transparent background and step by step, follow the tutorial. Others are created without tutorials, they are my own. I am Portuguese and with some difficulty I translate the tutorial. (I only know in English and French). Me to create an image, I'm hours until it's over. The only thing I'm looking for on the net are png images (decorations, landscape and people). But the background is all created by me. And I sign my pictures. I do not care that people catch and do ning themes. I only get sad, when after so long creating an image, someone puts his name over mine. But it is not these people who will make me stop sharing my work. I will always share. What happened to my images, I already talked to the person. I know that sharing our work on the net, anyone can take it. And what are we going to do? I do not do anything. If I find out who it was, I talk to the person. If you don't know who it was, I forget and I keep creating and sharing. Sorry for my english, it's bad.

My creations are made in photoshop and Corel paint shop pro.

Hugs

Livita

[MARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGA]

Very well.
Snow Wolf's comment is very good for what I understand about images.
I also use component parts from other authors and keep the source even in the name of the image itself.
It is hard work to make a good image with excellent quality.
I know about Livita's work.
She has great taste, researches a lot and uses the technique of the tutorials very well.
It is unfortunate to see a crude forgery.
With me this has already happened on another site.
It's unpleasant, believe me.

[Livita]

Thanks Margarida.
I also know your work for a long time. And I know the difficulties and work  you have in creating an image. And it's very sad, after this work, someone take your picture and write the name over yours.

[Hippy]

Sorry other people take credit for some thing they do not do,

this is why most of my creations, editing, and crops I do and share.

I never sign them and many took days to complete,

but knowing other's will also use them and when I see my work in other ways it just makes me happy they were good enough for others to use them how ever in something new to share for all to enjoy...

Thank all of you for sharing here for all to enjoy when time permits...

  Healthy Hippy Hugs to all...

[Livita]

Yes. I agree. If they take our images is because they liked it. And that's good..
I think there is no need to talk about this anymore.
Let's create and share.
Hugs

[Hippy]