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the_rudeboy
15-08-2007, 12:06
I'm thinking of starting up a small website for custom designed tattoos and want to know how I can prevent people downloading my designs for free.

Please be gentle and don't get too technical.

Thanks.
Shiesh
15-08-2007, 12:08
You could put a 'sample' ghosting across the photo/picture.

I think you can actually protect images as I have come across images I have been unable to save too! but I am sorry I don't know how to do it!
orbrey
15-08-2007, 12:18
There's not really a concrete way to stop this afaik - even if the image is overlayed with a transparency (as suggested above) you'll still get people downloading by getting the URL for the picture from the page source (if they want it that badly).

I'd consider 'watermarking (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_watermark)' the pictures instead - stick a copy of your company's logo, made transparent, on top of the picture in whatever image program you use. This will make them fine for examples but a lot more difficult to use when downloaded.

Hope this helps,
adaline
15-08-2007, 12:22
One wasy to do it: create a flash app that animates through the picture so you cant see all of it at any one point (so a simple screen capture wont display it) such as here - www.tattoofinder.com
You can also try some photomanipulation such as only showing a part of the pitcure, bluring the rest and displaying a thumbnail so punters get what it looks like.
But there is no perfect way, anyone with an ounce of determination will be able to replicate the design without too much effort, its like selling people stories whilest leting them read it first.
donky7
15-08-2007, 12:23
use small thumbnails with watermark over the top, then when these are blown up they distort....
easythumbnails is a free program.
Draggletail
15-08-2007, 15:06
If you put the following code between the <head> </head> tags on your website it will stop the casual 'right clicker' 'saving the image as'

It isn't foolproof though, your source code and therefore the location of your images on your server is easily viewable to all.....

A watermark is more of a guarantee against having your images purloined :D

Code:

<script language="Javascript1.2">
// (C) 2004 CodeLifter.com
function nrcIE(){
if (document.all){return false;}}
function nrcNS(e){
if(document.layers||(document.getElementById&&!document.all )){
if (e.which==2||e.which==3){
return false;}}}
if (document.layers){
document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);
document.onmousedown=nrcNS;
}else{document.onmouseup=nrcNS;document.oncontextm enu=nrcIE;}
document.oncontextmenu=new Function("return false");
</script>
Cynic
15-08-2007, 15:19
You have to remember that anything shown on the screen can be copied using the "Print Screen" button, so only distorting the image in some way will work.
Draggletail
15-08-2007, 15:43
You have to remember that anything shown on the screen can be copied using the "Print Screen"
Even easier to do with MWSnap too :D
http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html

In fact here's one I did earlier ..... god, I must be bored :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/draggletail/mws.jpg?t=1187192541
the_rudeboy
15-08-2007, 17:43
Thanks for the help everyone. Much appreciated. :thumbsup:
GSK
15-08-2007, 19:57
Whatever people can see, in a web-browser, they can always hit just grab the whole screen and paste that in to photoshop, so in that sense there is nothing you can do to prevent that.

You can however, watermark your images, and / or, give out lower quality images, with higher quality version for sale seperatly.