If you don't want others to use your materials and take credit for them, then protect your copyrights. Watermarks can help protect photo and video content. What is it and what kind of material can be protected?

Who needs watermarks?

Watermarks are relevant for designers, photographers, artists, and other creative people. It takes a lot of effort to create unique content. Authors draw, photograph, or create other visual materials, and there is always someone who wants to take advantage of your work by appropriating it. To prevent this from happening, watermarks were created. This is a kind of protection against theft of your copyrighted works. Even if stolen, the watermark will become an advertisement that includes the name or logo of the site.

Why do I need to use a watermark?

It is impossible to stop someone from stealing online content from someone else's page or website. Therefore, in order to protect the authorship, it is advisable to put a watermark on each work. After all, it often happens that a blogger buys expensive equipment, pays for photography and video lessons, creates his or her own unique works that interest subscribers, and a smart guy finds it and takes everything to his or her page right away. Along with the works, potential customers go to the thief. It is watermarks that will protect your authorship.

 What is a watermark?

Typically, a watermark is a translucent signature, logo, or some kind of graphic that certifies the work's authorship. It can be a transparent link to the work's author, channel, or website.

What protection does a watermark provide?

If you work as a photographer or videographer, create unique pictures or projects that you plan to sell in the future, a watermark is a good protection. You post your works on the Internet with such marks only to familiarize potential customers with your materials. If there is a buyer for the product, then you are already sending them original works without markings.

Can the thief remove the watermark?

Everyone knows that in order to use watermarked works, you need to either pay the owner or negotiate. However, not everyone follows these principles. If the mark is located in a corner, some dishonest people will cut off the work. In fact, it's impossible to do this if the translucent logo is all over the photo.

What should a watermark look like?

When placing watermarks, there are also certain rules. It should not be very visible, so the marks are made transparent so as not to spoil the value of the content. At the same time, the watermark should be viewable so that interested people can recognize the "hand" of the author or learn about the existence of a particular company or brand. Ideally, you should create a watermark or make it in the style of a campaign logo.

What can I use when creating a watermark?

 - Name or pseudonym of a blogger, brand, or company;

 - Link to the owner's page or company website;

- a fictitious mark or logo that certifies authorship;

- Never put dates on watermarks to avoid changing them in the future.

Where should watermarks be placed?

Most often, watermarks are placed in the corners of an image or video. This is a real pleasure. However, it's easier to get rid of such a mark - you can crop the photo. Experts recommend placing the watermark in the center of the work, where it will overlap important elements of the image or across the picture. You shouldn't put a watermark on a person's face because it will spoil the perception. It all depends on the purpose for which you are uploading your work to the Internet. If you're advertising a brand, you should put the mark in one part of the frame, and if you're trying to prevent copying and theft, the watermark can cover the entire area.

Disadvantages of watermarks?

When using watermarks, the image is not always perceived as intended. Sometimes the mark can be distracting. Watermarks are not legally binding and do not protect. If you defend your work in court, watermarks will not help if you do not have a copyright on the logo or brand.