Hello, regarding the various AI-powered programs that remove watermarks, are you working on a solution to this problem? Thank you.
What’s the problem, that you want to prevent AI from removing your site’s watermarks? I’m not aware of any solution to prevent AI or image-editing software from manipulating pixels.
Add a robots.txt file to your website, and hope that the AI bots crawling the web care to acknowledge it.
I’ve noticed that some clients who received a gallery from me have photos without watermarks. Yesterday, I asked a client about it, and they mentioned it was possible to remove the watermark using AI. Perhaps a solution would be to prevent users from taking screenshots. I’m not sure if this is possible.
No, it’s not possible. Screenshots are taken from the OS level. A website cannot reasonably block a screenshot, nor is there any DRM API that would allow us to black-out IMG elements on the page when screenshots are taken.
As much as Meta has done to prevent downloading images from Instagram, they can’t stop me screenshotting them either.
Depending on your settings, this could be normal. For example, if using the Cart add-on and in your template “Generate Photos for Purchase” is enabled, when you publish an album in Lightroom there is an option under Features that will exclude watermarks in photos-for-purchase.
Or, in Lightroom Publisher settings, watermarks could get turned off.
what kind of albums are you sending to clients? How are you publishing?
It might be worth mentioning to your clients that removing watermarks could be considered copyright infringement.
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I recently mentioned this issue within another context. I personally have:
- Added robots.txt
- PHP code to capture desktop and notebook right click and key codes, CTRL+C, etc. to slow the process, similar to Amazon.
- Added watermarks with copywrite information to all images including thumbnails
- Control the resolution of published images with notation throughout that best quality images are for sale including virtually any format through FotoMoto. I also clearly note that the purchased images are of best available resolution and contain a discrete watermark.
As I discussed in a previous context, resolution of published images, which also impacts screen shots, is at present the main remining deterrent; however, AI driven software packages such as Topaz Gigapixel do a appraisingly good job of intercalating pixels.
In summary, I feel your pain and do not see an answer on the horizon. My layered approach helps honest visitors stay honest and I have accepted that there is little I can do for the rest if I still want to publish my work.
Regards,
James
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