Image protection (part 2) If you do not wish to use the methods described in part 1, the following techniques will make it more difficult to copy your images, however, none are foolproof.

 

Digital copyright marking

Digimarc (plug-ins available for graphics programs like PhotoShop and Paint Shop Pro) embeds information in your image which is not visible, but contains an identity code.

Digimarc charge a fee for this service.

 

Roll-over images

When the mouse is moved over a roll over image a second image appears (rolls over), and that image can be used to display a copyright notice.

Right click mouse action is a very common method for grabbing an image, but this will only allow the visitor to grab the roll- over image.

 

Disable right click

There are numerous Java Scripts available that serve to disable the right click action. Not all of these will work on a Mac, and none will work if the viewer's browser has the turned off the enable Java option.

 

Null image overlays

Set up a table (or layer) the same size as the image you want to protect. Next, create a new table (or layer) within the first. The image to be protected should be placed in the first table. A "null" of the same size should be placed in the second table (i.e. on top of the first image). A "null" image is simply a blank transparent GIF.

If someone right clicks and saves the image, they will only grab the null image.

 

Sectioned images

Dividing your image into several pieces (say 4), and save each of these as a separate file. These are then reassembled in a zero border table (e.g. 2 rows and two columns).

If someone right clicks and saves the image, they will only grab a portion of the image.

 

Flash or Java Slide-Show

Flash or Java (not to be confused with Java script) slide-shows do not facilitate right clicking. They however remain vulnerable to a screen grab.

 

Resources

	Digimarc offer services such as convert watermarking, image tracking, and on-line image backups. The service costs between $79 and $499.
	Dynamic Drive offers a range of free scripts for things such as roll-over, or disable right click scripts.

 

Image Protection (part 1) - simple how to advice.
General Internet Protection - an overview of email Spam, plagiarism, and bandwidth theft protection.

---

Article date: 02 September 2009 ¦ Suggest an amendment or a new resource