Debate | Should You Watermark Art You Are Posting Online?

I am usually asked by artists whether or not they ought to watermark their artwork in advance of sharing it on-line. There appears to be to be a rather prevalent problem that putting up artwork images on the net could guide to unauthorized reproduction or theft of the artwork. I don’t dismiss this danger out of hand the theft of mental assets is a extremely genuine dilemma. I would argue, however, that a watermark is a very very poor way to offer with the issue and that watermarks defeat the reason of sharing do the job on line in the initially put.

If you are sharing your artwork on line, you are probably undertaking so in get to accomplish broader publicity for your work, establish recognition for on your own and your operate, and make income. In order to reach these aims you want to present your artwork in its greatest feasible mild. Having looked at countless numbers (probably tens of thousands) of artwork visuals on the net, I would argue that the appeal of artwork is considerably diminished by which includes a watermark. Imagine about what a watermark accomplishes – it mars the artwork to an extent that a would-be thief wouldn’t want to steal it to reproduce it. That marring of the picture will just as certainly diminish the appeal of the piece to a possible promoter or purchaser of your work.

I would also argue that the lower in charm outweighs any protection you acquire from a watermark. An vital benefit of submitting your artwork on the web is the enhanced exposure your do the job gets when it is shared.  Viewers are considerably less most likely to share artwork that is watermarked.

The probability of theft is pretty minimal. When there is a whole lot of intellectual home theft taking place on the internet, it is excellent to remember that there is an overpowering amount of money of artwork on the internet. The probabilities of your perform displaying up on t-shirts produced in China is particularly low.

Normally, the photos you share online are quite small resolution. These illustrations or photos would final result in very poor reproductions.

There are respectable legal good reasons to assert your copyright when you write-up your work on the internet, but a normal detect on your web site or a caption beneath your artwork will deliver the exact profit with out diminishing the overall look of your real artwork.

If you have queries or worries about your copyright and how to secure it, you really should examine the troubles with an legal professional who has experience preserving mental home. Past yr I interviewed Steve Schlachman, a popular IP lawyer – look at that job interview in this article.

Do you watermark the art you article on the web? Why, or why not? Do you have counter-arguments that I’ve failed to take into account? Please share your feelings in the feedback underneath.

Updated: Illustrations of Watermarks Added

Many thanks to everybody for posting your thoughts on this matter in the responses – you’ve designed superb points. Some of you have been kind adequate to send examples of your watermarking to give some suggestions of your method.