[coachdan32]

I am working on a website for a local artist that wants to setup an online gallery. He is very concerned about having his art stolen from the site. Has anyone done a similar site that may be able to advise on best protection practices? I know that if they want it bad enough, they will get it. I just want to make it as difficult as possible.

[CouchMaster]

Impossible to do. Absolutely impossible to do! A screen shot is all it takes.

[Gibble]

Watermark it...it won't look as good in the gallery...but at least if it's stolen, it's got a watermark on it...if people want the real, "unwatermarked" version, they'll have to pay for it.

[CouchMaster]

Unless they have one of the many programs that remove watermarks. But, it's true. The only way to thwart thieves is to make your items so unattractive that they don't want them. I suggest publishing them at the lowest acceptable resolution possible that still conveys your concept.

[coachdan32]

Thanks Gibble and CouchMaster. That is the exact advice I gave him, I was just checking that there may be a way to do more that I am unaware of. I can disable right-click functions on the page, but that only stops amateurs and usually makes people mad enough to try harder.

Try dynamidrive
serach for no right click
also try
antssoft
they both are web links but they won't let me post it here since I just sign on today

[AKA Arizona]

Dynamic Drive HTML http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex9/noright.htm
Is a very simple way to prevent the right click, but just having access over the net is all that is needed.

[Dreambringer]

Even by disable'n the right click you can still get the image off the site...

The best thing to do, is the artwork, edit it with some sort of image editing software, and just put some kinda mark on it, not even a watermark but you could do a water mark...

Other then that, its near impossible to keep it from being "stolen" on the web..

I'm not sure what is going on in here, but those programs will work when you do what I advice you to, no one can copy and paste or print anything.
they can use the print screen feuture which it will wokr on any browser bu tit won't look that good.

Trust I have done this. and to conclude I'm begining to believe that there are lots of bots and guys who just want to screw the users on this site, if that is true I don't want to have anything to do with it, at all.

Thanks

[Shadow2531]

The closest you are going to get is image freeze.

It loads pics via a java applet and continually clears the clipboard, which makes print screen not work.

It requires that the person view the page in IE. Otherwise the pics won't show up.

The pic data is encrypted and actual pic files do not get downloaded to the temp folder or java temp folder. Also, logging an http connection will not help.

You can use a java decompiler on the jar file to see the java code that is used so you can create your own program to decrypt the applet argument. You can also still do print screen if you time things just right and move swiftly.

I've sucessfully gotten the images via print screen and seen the java code, but it's still better than the others.

[CouchMaster]

Sure, all of this is fine and dandy and will most certainly stop the casual person from downloading the image. But all of this extra code in your HTML is eventually going to cause you more headaches than any thief ever would. And the extra cost of these packages to prevent a screen print? Most people want your picture because they think its pretty. They download it and then promptly forget about it - not to claim it as their own and resell it.
But if you do everything in your power to stop it, and all of this stuff works, then the guy, if he wants it bad enough, will just take a photograph of the monitor screen with a digital camera and ???????????????

[Dreambringer]

Yes this is true...

My bet is still on water marks put into a copy of the image, so they can try and edit the watermark out but really wont be worth their time.. for example.. like this one...



yeah it does not look good.. but just not worth the time and effort to try and get all the stuff out...

[CouchMaster]

I have to agree. A light watermark like that will do more to deter copying the image than anything else - not to mention it's probably the easiest thing to do and maintain a reasonably good quality picture.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by msanchez

I'm not sure what is going on in here, but those programs will work when you do what I advice you to, no one can copy and paste or print anything.
they can use the print screen feuture which it will wokr on any browser bu tit won't look that good.

Trust I have done this. and to conclude I'm begining to believe that there are lots of bots and guys who just want to screw the users on this site, if that is true I don't want to have anything to do with it, at all.

Thanks

Ok, then show me a page you think I can't get the image from...sorry, but if I can see it, I can get it.

A watermark at least prevents me from getting a pristine copy...

I'm sorry is this site to help others or to confuse them? I build computers and maintain networs, have clients.
By the way it looks in here it just sound as if no one is trying to help at all but yet, confuse the user.
One:
Why will anyone do the java option, some people still not up to date with computers and they have old systems, java will lock the system most times.
TWO:
Just use the internet explorer?
Why when there is firefox and or mozilla and on top of that IE also has problems displaying java, "if it is an old system"
Three:
He wants to sell the art not to stop viewers from seeing it.
FOURTH:
The best idea I have seem is using a water mark that will do it, and for the one who said show me something and I can copy it, if you want I have a different place and I can assure you, you won't be able to get it, Also taken a picture of the CRT or monitor won't work because of the reflection. No matter what type or monitor are you using.

So instead of confusing the user why don't you all give good advice and stop sounding as if you got mad because your opinion is not being taken on consideration.