[photolady]

I know in other browsers, such as IE, one can view source code and still get your photos. I had one joined a javascript newsletter type thing and they mentioned using a transparent layer used over photos to keep people from stealing your photos/graphics, but I have since moved and lost the favorite I had for that site. I'll see if I can still find it, if you're interested in something like this.

[sunnidaze2k]

I dont know about AOL but this is the code I use...and unless you search in the back door ... you dont pull anything off

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>
<!-- http://www.spacegun.co.uk -->
var message = "function disabled";
function rtclickcheck(keyp){ if (navigator.appName == "Netscape" && keyp.which == 3){ alert(message); return false; }
if (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE") != -1 && event.button == 2) { alert(message); return false; } }
document.onmousedown = rtclickcheck;
</SCRIPT>

[acraftylady]

Thank you I will try that code. I know about viewing the source code and I think I have been on sites where the source code won't even show, I didn't realize you could still get the photos by viewing the source code so I learned someting there.

[acraftylady]

OK, I just tried the code you gave me and it does the same as I am using now. It says function disabled but I can drag it off the page into the AOL browser and it comes up in the AOL picture viewer and I can save it from there. Let me see if I can find an example of a page I am not able to do this with using AOL, I know I have been on some before and wondered what they used so I couldn't drag or anything.

[moebius]

use a java applet to anchor pictures - but beware java applets load slow

[starchild]

Just getting back to this.

I've used NO RIGHT CLICK on pictures (when someone I made a website for wanted this). But, that (and not showing source code) doesn't really work. It's so easy just to do a screen capture.

Also, when I used the NO RIGHT CLICK I did not put anything flip and rude in it! I hate when people do this, like "no no don't even think about it!" or something about not stealing their picture. I put "this and all artwork is owned by (name of artist) If you'd like information about purchasing prints, please email..."

I have come to the conclusiong that the best way to handle this is to make the pictures on the website rather small and low resolution. That way if they are enlarged they aren't good quality. Same with printing.

The art site I made (for the person who wanted to sell printes) had thumbnails and then BIG full size pictures when clicked. Of course, he was also showing off his art talent, an wanted details to show.

Not sure what would be the best size/resolution for this?

That, and the light "name" on the bottom of the picture seems like would be enough.

I don't really want to get into trying to prevent all use of pictures, just discouraging anyone from taking them, claiming them, and then possibly saying *I* was using their picture.

You never know.

It's an interesting topic, and I learned a lot.

Like changing what's used for the picture (making an oil painting of someone's photo, for example) and that being okay to use.

I've seen greeting cards (the kind you get in the mail and are supposed to send a donation for) that have pictures on them, that look like water colors, I've also seen online, as real, copyrighted (and for sale) prints.

Unless they get permission to use them for the cards. They don't have a notice of this.

This means I could find someone's photo online and change it to an oil painting or poster (in PhotoShop, etc) and it would then be MINE?

~ Carrie

[photolady]

Usually what I do with those photos I post on the web, is scan them in, resize using pixel width/height, then change the dpi to 72, after that when I save them, their .jpg's and no one can enlarge to a suitable/printable size. As for greeting card photos, most, if not all, the greeting card company holds the copyright on these and since they are widely distributed, I assume they are fair use photos. So far I have not found any real way to deter those who insist on copying my photos, so what I usually do is not post those I would consider money photos. I just post those that are quality prints and then state I have others. If they want to see them, I tell them to email me and I'll send them a copy. Of course these would be the same quality or non quality so they couldn't print them.

[starchild]

Thanks, PhotoLady

You're saying you put samples on a website and people ask you for others and then (possibly) buy them from you?

Is this an actual business one can get into?

I have a lot of photos, and a lot scenic (sky, clouds, different seasons) but I don't have a really good, epxensive camera.

So, I don't know if I could sell pictures to be inlarged for any reason.

What I've thought of to use them for is screensavers (trying to find a good, affordable program to make them. I bought ACez screen saver builder last year, but it stopped working, and the person selling it didn't seem to be much help in finding out why), having greeting cards printed to sell on ebay (or local tourist shops, I live in a tourist state (Vermont). Or, what..? Right now it's taking up my mind, taking pictures and I'm using them to learn some of the graphic programs.

I've also thought of the idea of making the photos into paintings (and/or posters, some look good like that) using PhotoShop. This would also make up for not having a really good camera.

I think they come out good, for posting on the web, and maybe smaller size prints.

I usually redice them to 72 or so anyway, just to make them easier to put on a page, or email, etc.

In a way, it can be a compliment if someone wants to use my pictures

~ Carrie

[photolady]

There is a lot to setting up a business that more involved than just printing photos and selling them. First you need clients/customers. My suggestion would be to scout your area, see how many photographers live or work there or both. What you need is a gimic, something no one else has tried to sell. If there is a market for your photos then all you need is materials and possibly a license to sell them. My business is registered with my state, but I went to a lot of trouble getting started. The area I lived in previously was also a tourist town, and many artists lived there. It was hard to compete with them as they were already established by the time I came along. So do your research then see if you still have a market for your photos. This will save you money and time.

If you do have a market and still want to try this, what I did was build a website, put what photos I thought were semi great, then as I said before, if anyone saw something they liked they could email me, and I'd send them others to look at. What worked for me the most was I saved several good quality photos on a cd, jpg'd so they couldn't copy them, then they emailed me back what photos they wanted. I sold quite a few this way. I have photos hanging on walls all over the country, including a few in State Parks.

[starchild]

I have another question about this, and copyrighting, etc.

I've been looking online (google images search) to find pictures to use with Photoshop- I'm learning effects, etc.

They probably won't ever go any further than my computer.

But, I've noticed on a few of the pages the photos (that come up in search) are on, they not only say "copyright" but some say something like "no reproducution, digitially manipluating, changing to other media, etc allowed". And that anyone they found had done this WOULD BE PROSECUTED!

Somewhere (a few days ago) someone told me that taking a photo and reproducing it in my own way (like making a water color of it) can't and isn't covered by copyrights. Because I'm making it into MY artistic creation, using a different media.

Does this apply to using effects in Photoshop, etc?

Also, I saw one picture of a lake near where I live. I could go to the lake and stand in the same place and take the exact same picture. yet the picture I saw of it was "copyrighted". If I were to go take the same picture, and (for example) make it into an oil painting with Photoshop, it would look like I had done this with the first person's picture.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has stood in the same place and taken the same view of this lake!

How does this relate to copyrighting?

I can see how someone wouldn't want anyone else taking a photo they had taken, and putting it on a webpage, (or somehow using it to make money) claiming it was their OWN photo.

But, other than that, seems like taking a picture of the same lake, in the same way, and changing it to something else, would be kind of a "grey area" as to the law.

I know there are dates on files, but someone pointed out that isn't really proof who actually took the picture, when because they can be changed.

What if I'm driving along and take a scenic picture and use it in some way, and someone else says they took the same picture, and copyrighted it?

How can you copyright a "view"?

~ Carrie

[photolady]

Anytime you take someone else's photos, it's against copyright laws. No matter what your friend says. And no mattter what you do with it, you're still violating copyright laws on those photos and the owner of them.

Views are not copyrighted, it's the medium used. And you can't take the exact same photo, someone else took because a lot of other aspects come into play. IE, time of day, time of year, time of moment. Like this: shadows change, sunshine changes, leaves change. There is simply no way you can take the same exact picture that someone else takes because of the aspects as I mentioned above. A lot of things come into play when taking and processing photos. To take the same photo someone else has taken you would have to be standing in the exact same spot as the person taking the photo at the same time the person took the photo. And of course, you would have to have the same camera, same medium and same process of creating that photo. Simply put, impossible to do. Period.

[acraftylady]

A long time ago I came across a site www.freefoto.com and it says the photos are free to private non-commercial users and for sale to other users so maybe this woud give you some pictures to play around with.

[photolady]

For a site like that, that acraftylady posted, the problem still exists as far as copyright goes. I see she says for non commercial users, and for sale to other users but.....one still can't manipulate them to use as their own. Commercially that is. You can use them to learn digital art, but you can not digitize them, then sell them as your own.

[boing]

Hi, Greetings from Washington State... I have to put my two bits in.
I've had people pirate and rob my hand made avatars and even my
photos and I know it can be really frustrating after you've spent hours
and sometimes days making an image. This is what I've done to back up
the copyright..... I superimpose an almost transparent image of my little
blue mousie icon with the words " Lil' Blue Mousie" next to it. It's easy to
do with paint shop pro or photoshop and it just helps in preventing the printing of the product. To make it a bit more difficult I put the icon and words in diagonal and near center of the picture. Either way .. if somebody
wants it for their personal use , they'll take it. I like taking and sharing some photos so I do nothing to them at all. As soon as I'm allowed and as soon as I learn how... I'll add my little mousie as my icon for this sight.
Have Fun.... that's the main thing.