How do I Watermark my Work?
Watermarking is very simple, actually~
What you'll need:
-An art program that deals with layers and layer opacity
-Photoshop is an example. However, there are free programs that allow you to do this too. Here's a list and their download locations. NOTE: I have used everything I post and can confirm that they are completely safe. ^^
GIMP: http://www.gimp.org/
ARTWEAVER: http://www.artweaver.de/index.php?en_version
I use Paint Tool SAI for most of my watermarking work, save for the text. For that I just copy/paste from a program mentioned above. http://sai.detstwo.com/sai/
Won't MS Paint work?
No, as it doesn't have layers. :<
-A SIMPLE symbol (nothing too distracting, or it will draw away from the piece) that you created or commisioned for yourself. You can draw this on the computer, you can request it from artists on Gaia, you can draw it on paper and scan it in.
-Make sure it has little to no color. Black and White is best, as it is not distracting, but you can add color as long as you keep it to one or two tones, otherwise it will get lost in the picture or distract away from it.
-Some way to contact you
-An email works the best, but it can be usernames or IDs on websites as well. Don't have an email or don't want your email cluttered? I'd suggest making one on gmail or hotmail then. These are both free email hosting sites (GMail's the best in my opinion).
-A name you associate with everywhere.
-Many use their real name, but just as many use usernames that they often use on other sites. Because of my no personal information policy, I would like to request you use your username for posting within this guild. Just make sure to also post what site to find you at, so they don't get your Clairvoyence confused with Clairvoyance from Neopets and such.
How to start:
First, open up the picture you are going to watermark in the program you chose. I use SAI, so my examples will be in SAI. I would suggest using SAI so you don't get lost, but they all have the same basic functions.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step1.jpg
(Yes, I know. It's terrible. It was just something I whipped up quick.)
Now, open up your watermark symbol. At this point you should have two pictures open. You want this to be smaller than the picture you are working with.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step2.jpg
(Also terrible.)
Now. Select all of your watermark using the selection tool. It usually looks like what is circled in the example.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step3.jpg
Go up to "EDIT". Choose "COPY". Then switch to your picture and go to "EDIT" and choose "PASTE". You'll get one of two results, usually result number two. Either only the watermark will show up. Or you will get the watermark with a white background. I just had the watermark.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step4.jpg
Now, if you got a white background, here's how to fix it. Find your layers window (It should look like what is circled here: http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step5.jpg) and look for where it says "Layer Mode" or "Mode" or "Layer Type". Something along those lines. It should have a drop down box next to it with "Normal" in it. Click that, and find the word "Multiply" in the dropdown menu. (http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step6.jpg) Your white background will be gone. This will ONLY work well for black and white watermarks. Otherwise the colors will look off.
Once you have that, find the layers window again and find "Opacity". In most cases, it will have a form of slider beside it (I think in Photoshop you have to click on the icon before it will give you the slider, but I don't like Photoshop. >> So.)
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step7.jpg
Set the opacity using the slider bar until your watermark is light, but still visible.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step8.jpg
Now we're going to resize and move it. Do you remember the selection tool I showed you? Find that, and select your watermark.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step9.jpg
Now, in some programs, you'll be able to resize it without clicking on anything. To figure out if you can, find the corner of the selection box and hover your mouse over it. If you still have your pointer, you can't. If you have arrows of any sort, you can. With SAI, you can't, so you need to find the "Scale" option, as shown. In other programs that you can't, usually your option is called Scale as well. That can be found in "EDIT", "MODIFY", or "TRANSFORM" on the top toolbar. Find Scale and select it.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step10.jpg
Now, hover your mouse over one of the corners, hold down your left mouse button (or right if you use it that way), and slowly drag the picture until you like the size of the watermark. Then let go. Usually you want to go for smaller, but sometimes you'll need it bigger if you have a particularily big image. Then find either "OK" or a Check point or something indicating you want to save your change and click it.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step11.jpg
Now we need to position it, so find your move arrow. On Sai it looks like this:
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step12.jpg
Select that, hover over your watermark, hold down your mouse button and drag it until you like where it is placed.
IMPORTANT: Make sure it is ON THE PICTURE. Not off to the side. Not in the corner of the page. ON THE PICTURE. This way it is hard to remove or edit out!
Now you do the same for text. You make your text in another program (or in the program you're using if it has the option OR hand write it!), paste it onto your picture, lower the opacity, resize it and move it so it's under your watermark. Like so:
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/KinamonCapalls/Step13.jpg
Now you save this AS A COPY of your picture (meaning "My Picture Copy" or "My Picture Watermark"). It is now safe to upload onto the internet. biggrin
~~~~~~~~
Why is this SO important?
Without a watermark, anyone can simply save your picture off the internet and upload it anywhere they want, claiming it to be theirs. They are, essentially, stealing your hard work. They can also save it and use it as a "free decal" for stuff they want to sell, such as clock faces, pendant designs, cigarette cases, notebook covers, t-shirts, ect. So they would be making money off of what you made.
I don't care.
Then you best not complain when it happens. Lots of people say they don't care until it happens, then suddenly everyone in the world should be hating this thief. While, yes, many artists do watch out for that person, they don't feel sorry nor try to help at all the person who didn't care about it before.
Why does it have to be on the picture? It's distracting.
Because it's harder to edit out. Many thieves know how to crop out corner-watermarks or color over watermarks on solid backgrounds. If you put it over the main picture, it's going to be very hard to re-create the coloring you did without completely ruining the picture itself and making it unusable. If it's distracting, try lightening it more, or using less color. Don't make the symbol so complicated or intricate. Remember that it's not supposed to be a picture in and of itself, but rather a brand. If people really like your art, they can look through your precautions.
Everyone says that if you put it on the internet, you automatically surrender your rights to it. Is that true?
NO. NEVER. You will ALWAYS own rights to your work. Those people are simply either thieves themselves, or people who can't look through watermarks. They need to suck it up and get over it, not you. You have every right in the world to protect what you've created, and you should always do so.
They also say that if you don't want it stolen, don't put it up.
Once again, those people are likely thieves or people who can't look through watermarks to enjoy the piece. While this holds a bit more truth, it's no reason for not watermarking your work.
What do I do about my writing?
That's tricky. I suggest you get screenshots of you both posting it, and the original date you posted it. I would also suggest writing it down on paper, dating the paper it was written on of when it was written, and keeping it in an envelope for safety. This way you will have physical proof if you every need it. Another method would be typing the words out into an art program and watermarking that, saving it as an image, and then posting that. People will be less inclined to try and take your writing if they can't just simply copy and paste it.
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If you have any questions or need any help, just let me know. Also, if you do end up using SAI longterm, PM me. I can help with that. :3
