Guest Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Hi, I have a general question to anyone in the know really. Is there any way of preventing images on my web site being downloaded and printed. or even pictures that have been sent via email, is there any way they can be stopped from being printed and only remain formatted for use as say a desktop image? I am wanting to sell my images as desktop images and prints, and want to try and reduce the risk of these being printed or copied. I was wondering if there was a certain format they could be saved in maybe like Jpeg that would prevent them being printed maybe??? If any one can understand what I am babbling on about and has some good tips for me how to set this up. I would love to hear from you!! Thanks Gail :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 unfortunately, once someone has the picture/image, they can pretty much print it, and if skilled, change it to something else. for people to not download them from your site, there is encryption software out there. you can also set folder rights, that if they go into the images folder, they are not allowed to view anything, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 1. Make the images low quality. This works fine for thumbnails. If you set the image to a native resolution of 80x100 or thereabouts, it won't print well in larger resolutions. 2. Watermark the images. I.e. put another image over top the image. This works well with the pop up images. If someone can view the image, they can convert it to a format that is printable. Thus, you have to cripple viewing in some fashion. Note that you essentially want for images what Apple tried to do with iTunes. However, the iTunes copy protection has already been beaten. A simple way to beat any desktop image only format: make a screen shot of the desktop. The screen shot will contain the image in as high a resolution format as it is displaying. Now print the screen shot (which is just a bitmap). Hth, Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrygarvey Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Not yet. There is no way to avoid theft, or automatically monitor copywrite infringement yet. I've heard that some form of coded origin key was being developed, but as the previous poster mentioned, things can be worked around. Im considering opening a stock photo site, and I'm taking a look at oscommerce, to see if it can be the engine. but as soon as someone downloads that file its in the wild and will be shared. (its a fact of virtual life) What I am doing is workng out the cost of that theft into my business plan. If one person can download the image and share it then I feel I have two choices, charge the one downloader for the presumed number of shared files, which brings the retail cost up, or bite the shared cost as a loss leader, and encourage the co-op users of my images to visit the site to pay for their own. or donate. I am not sure if open source works as a conept for independent, non represented artists, I wish it did, but hey what can ya do? charge someone eery time they view an image? I think you have to consider your downloadable service as a loss leader, and consider implementing a pop up window that encourages registration, or referal, or something. and use that downloadable service as a leader into premium services you might develop. Your doing desk tops? so why not offer a service to develop customized personalized desktops? just a vague notion their but I hope you get what I mean. My bro is ALWAYS bugging me to make a desk top or screen saver animation of his latest photos for him, why not develop a make your own on your site where they can upload at a cost and then download their very own personalized desktop - it could be a wizzard. Im why they put the !ACK! in hack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 :) Interesting ideas. Thanks for the imput its really nice to see what you guys have to say on this matter. From what I haver heard so far, I will upload my images onto the site in a low resolution image . but when I offer the option on desktops, I will just have to consider a reasonable price to allow for people having the option of print aswell, and then take it from there. (Keep the input coming - I love to hear from you) XXX Gail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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