Adding a copyright watermark to photographs

There are many ways to add a copyright watermark to your photographs with many variations.  This is just one, which when done can be added to your images in a simple ‘Action’ in Photoshop.

Please note the sizes listed are just guides and you may wish to change them depending on the size of the photograph and the size of the copyright logo you require on the image.

For ease of viewing click the images to 'go large'

Step1:  Firstly open a ‘new file’ and set the Resolution to '300' and the size to '6” x 4”'.  (Should you require one centrally located watermark on your photograph then you may wish to change the size to 20”x20”)  Make sure the background is set to 'transparency'.

Step 2:  Select the 'text tool' and type your name, business name or any other title you wish.  Font 'size 100' and 'colour black'.

Step3:  Next click the 'shapes tool' and add drag open the 'copyright logo' to the desired size.  'Colour required, black'.

 

Step 4:  You will now have two layers in all.  Go to 'layer' and 'merge visible'.

Step 5:  Now right click on the single layer in the 'layers palette' and select 'blending options' and click the 'bevel and emboss' and 'set the fill anywhere between zero and nine points' Click OK

At this point you may wish to save the image as a PSD and jump to Step 10a for a single, centrally placed watermark.

Step 6:  Next click the 'free transform' button and rotate the text diagonally.

Step 7:  Click 'image' and then 'trim' and choose 'transparent pixels'.  This will trim away the unwanted space around the watermark.

Step 8:  Now what we need to do is set this up as a pattern we can use later.  Go to 'edit' and 'define pattern'

Give it a name and click ok.  You may also wish to save this as a psd file as well.

Step 9:  Now we can add the copyright logo to the image.

 Select your image you wish to copyright and add a new layer.  'Layers' then 'new layer'.

Step 10:  Go to 'edit' and then 'fill' where you can click on the customer pattern and choose the pattern you have just created.  Click OK.  This will run the copyright logo over the entire picture.

Step 10a:  Should you wish to have just a single watermark in the picture then after making and saving your copyright logo click on 'file' and then 'place'.  This will put the saved watermark in the centre of the picture.  N.B.  Should you prefer this look it is stringly suggested that when starting to create your copyright logo that you choice a new file at 20"x"20".

The logo can be moved around for greater definition.

So there we have it.  Obviously you are going to have hundreds,  if not thousands of pictures to copyright!  For this you'll need to set up an 'action' and a  'batch' process.  

A top tip for another day me thinks!

If you like the idea of finding out who, where and when your images are been used on line without the need of a visible watermark, then have a look at :-

Digimard for Images

Thanks to Mike Barr for bringing this to my attention.

Virtual tours - in a 17th Century lead mine!

Well I can never complain that photography doesn't take me to interesting places, as the latest project is to produce a post graduate, high definition virtual tour of an old lead mine in Derbyshire.  Funding has been acquired from Derby University and the British Cave Research association to produce a survey of bats that reside in the mine throughout the year. But  before you ask, I'm not the one doing the surveying!  However what does one do with a few thousand pound worth of camera equipment when posed with the question of 'Can you do a virtual tour underground and include all the data for future students?'  This I couldn't refuse, but mud, water and humidity are not the best things for an all electronic camera, but I was determined to find out.  Of course I used the latest water resistant housing technology to protect the camera - a plastic bag- and ventured forth.

Now lighting is a big problem underground as there basically isn't any!  However, if anyone wants to know how to take dramatic photographs in a mine or cave?  Let me know and I'll run a course.

Should you wish to follow this project over the next twelve months, then, here is the link to the very first, very rough, and very crude web link that will constantly change as the project progresses and the images finalised:-
Project link

Sagelight- the wonder software

Well, what can is say!  I've just completed an entire photographic job in Sagelight and what a breeze it was too.  Photoshop, as excellent as it is, was just not getting the colour balances right, yet with one click of the 'auto levels' in Sagelight and they were instantly corrected.  Not to mention the 'mask' feature that is so much simpler to produce than layer masks for those simple jobs, like brightening people’s eyes for example.

 Image straight from the camera

The new filters in the Powerbox settings.  Also a nice little shadow effect on the border

So make sure you've got the most up-to-date version on your computer because there are some wonderful new filters in the Powerbox.  Give them a try and look out for the date for our second Sagelight course coming soon!

Sagelight Course

There was silence in the room when I tiptoed in to make tea last night at the Sagelight Course - silence save for the whirring of brain cogs mastering masking and ...other stuff.... in Sagelight (I was making tea, it's all Greek to me!).

The new, temporary venue seemed a good choice  - and handy for anyone fancying a quick game of tennis! There are already plans for Sagelight II, we'll keep you posted.

Party!!

Thanks all for a lovely evening on Sunday, sadly the only photos that were taken were by Lauren.... For those of you going away, have a great time - see you very soon in September!