Watermarking your still images, audio, animations or video is a great way to keep others from just taking them. There are lots of ways to accomplish this.  Today we talk about still images (photos).

Watermarking still images using an image editor:

Most photo creation programs come with a watermark embed feature. However, if they don’t and you want to create a watermark you certainly can. Here is how you do it.

First of all you need to understand what a watermark is. A watermark is a transparent image (.gif or .png) that appears over top of the image you are using. You flatten or merge the image layers to create the embedded watermark. A Watermark can be text or graphics.

The way you choose to watermark your image is up to you. For example, in Photoshop®, you create a new transparent layer over top of the image. Then add your text or logo in the top layer and drop the opacity to the desired level (I like to use 45%). Flatten or merge the layers and save the image for the web and your watermark will be embedded. Here is an example of a watermarked image using this technique.

FREE watermarking programs.

There are two types of watermarking programs. On line services and software programs you download to your desktop.

On-line programs:

Watermark Tool – upload your image, add your watermarking text, choose the color, hit generate and you’re done.

PicMarkR – Upload your image(s) – apply your watermark and get your watermarked image(s). You can upload images from your computer, Flicker or your blog.

WaterMarkMagic enables you to impress, overlay and link images, pictures, photos, calendars, reports, maps, charts, patterns, designs, logos and icons. Results can be printed, saved and shared in PDF format. You can upload images from Flicker or your computer.

FREE Watermarking Software:

UMarkLite – Freeware - Adds a watermark, does batch watermarking, and saves your settings for later use.

VXEI picture uploader - This free program does a lot of things. Batch watermarks, uploads and resizes your photos before uploading.

WaterMark is an open source image-watermarking tool.

Protect your Images by disabling right click:

Now if watermarking does not work for you, you can protect your images is by disabling the right click. That way no one can right click and save your image. If you want to do that you can use a bit of java script, which you would place right after the head tag.

Here is the script:

From Java Script Source.

I hope you enjoy these freebies. If you have other watermarking software or online tools you use let me know! I am always looking for great software and services.