Graphic Design Contests

**angele803** · 10-19-2006, 09:27 PM

Hey designers. I know a lot of you aren't sure how to watermark your images. Some of you believe that watermarking takes away from the visual appeal of your designs. But in the great fight against image thieves, we all should be watermarking our images. It is one small step that can keep fake contests from cropping up. I STRONGLY encourage everyone to watermark your designs. It is very easy and only takes a few seconds to do. Here is how to do it. It is almost the same proceedure in every design program.

1. After your design is complete. Make a new text layer and type out some text. Some have suggested text such as your user name or webmaster-talk.com. You can also put "sample" or "watermark".

2. Place the text over your image.

3. Lower the opacity of the text to about 15%.

Bam, you're watermarked!

Again, please start incorporating watermarks into your designs. If you have a strong design and concept, a watermark will not destroy that design. And if we all start doing this, contest holders will be forced to look beyond all watermarks!

Thanks!

**Neonimage** · 10-20-2006, 02:36 PM

Also if you have a logo instead of text or aswell as text it also shows that it's clearly yours not somone elses

**Serggg** · 10-21-2006, 05:53 AM

In Photoshop you can also create a special pattern and reuse it in all future works. To make such pattern create new document with transparent background (for example 300x225), type your text or place a logotype in the middle, then select the whole canvas (Ctrl-A) and finally create the pattern (Main menu->Edit->Define Pattern). That's all, now you can use it in all documents by creating a new pattern layer and adjusting its transparency

**mgraphic** · 10-22-2006, 10:03 PM

Including a Photoshop action you can use to automatically create watermark.

**Critizin** · 10-23-2006, 11:47 PM

I agree with neon image make a logo watermark so u can tell its clearly yours.

**angele803** · 11-01-2006, 09:32 PM

I am proud of all my little designers! I have seen lots of watermarking! One thing I want to mention though, is that I have seen several watermarks that are either behind the image, or at the top or bottom of the image. It is better (imho) to put the watermark ON TOP of the image. That way, if someone steals it, it is more difficult for them to remove the watermark.

**ORiN** · 11-04-2006, 05:02 AM

Definitely good advice for would-be designers especially with so many stealing of artworks going on on the Internet.

**CannonBallGuy** · 11-28-2006, 04:03 PM

I only looked in one topic for a few weeks now, and no entries (bar mine) have watermarks...:
http://www.webmaster-talk.com/graphi...ar-anyone.html

**ForrestCroce** · 02-17-2007, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angele803

One thing I want to mention though, is that I have seen several watermarks that are either behind the image, or at the top or bottom of the image. It is better (imho) to put the watermark ON TOP of the image. That way, if someone steals it, it is more difficult for them to remove the watermark.

The edge is okay if you compose the image in a way that cropping would hurt. It's probably more important to be consistent than exactly where, though, which is a shame because detail around the watermark makes it harder to clone. Another thing people should do is put a copyright symbol ( © ) into their watermark. PC users can hold down alt and then type 0169 on the numeric keypad. You own the copyright as soon as you create something, unless you're doing it on the clock.

In Photoshop, instead of the normal text tool, you want the one that creates a selection. Once you have the shape of your text selected, press ctrl + J to copy it to a new layer, and then apply styling. This could be a gradient, pattern, or any number of things.

Example:

**ghiavolu** · 07:21 AM

LOL - joke!

**jhnrang** · 04-12-2007, 11:00 AM

I usually select the watermark option that comes with Photoshop 7.0. and IMO -watermarking is very important against any kind of michievous acts by others.

**twiggy** · 04-23-2007, 07:57 PM

To be honest some of the work I see submitted to contests are of poor quality and I wouldn't dream of giving them to any client, so watermarking is not really needed by most.

If there was a design that I liked that had a watermark and for what ever reason I decided I wanted it, I would have no problem working over the water mark (especially if you use a opacity ratio on it)or copying the design from scratch.

Don't put your self in false sense of security thinking watermarks will save your work because if someone wants it enough they will have no problem getting it.

So water marking in my opinion DOES take away the over all effect on the design and makes it look cluttered and messy.

**Tropica** · 04-24-2007, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twiggy

To be honest some of the work I see submitted to contests are of poor quality and I wouldn't dream of giving them to any client, so watermarking is not really needed by most.

If there was a design that I liked that had a watermark and for what ever reason I decided I wanted it, I would have no problem working over the water mark (especially if you use a opacity ratio on it)or copying the design from scratch.

Don't put your self in false sense of security thinking watermarks will save your work because if someone wants it enough they will have no problem getting it.

So water marking in my opinion DOES take away the over all effect on the design and makes it look cluttered and messy.

what a ridiculous statement, watermarking will make it difficult for MOST people to copy, obviously if your an artist you can copy it, its not about security, its about showing the work is yours. You have a great attitude, you wont last long on here

**woosh** · 04-24-2007, 11:22 AM

Watermarking or a simple copyright notice is enough to deter most and those stupid enough to steal someone elses work only have to remind themselves that they are too useless to be original and lack their own creativity

... not to forget that karma tends to kick one up the rear end.

At the end of the day this is a place for new and skilled to submit entires in a contest and to have some fun, comments likes yours twiggy... eg "poor quality" (we all have to start somewhere)

are a bit off to say the least.

**smokin gun** · 05-08-2007, 07:27 PM

thanks for the suggestions!

**viptmm** · 07-03-2007, 01:05 PM

some contests here requires PSD files sent to their e-mail... so...
anyway i think that a professional designer will awalys protect hes creations and post them into hes portofolio... for newbs like me is a good advice

**woosh** · 07-04-2007, 06:14 PM

Any entries for a contest here should be posted in the threads and sending psd files or your artwork straight to a CH is asking for your work to be taken, there is no reason as to why an entry shouldn't be posted in the threads.

**Republikin** · 07-04-2007, 09:17 PM

Woosh is absolutely right. Sending your files directly to the CH is against Webmaster-Talk policy and will result in your entries being removed. Its unfair to the other designers who are participating within our rules and will not be tolerated.

**mikeaa** · 10-05-2007, 11:28 AM

Just one more thing to twiggy, not to beat a dead horse, but how were your logos when you first started? Were you the best, probably not. I can design a logo in my head and draw it on a piece of paper. But I can't put it down on the computer. That is why I have a graphic designer that works for me.

What I'm saying, is that we all have different talents. Don't bash the people that are trying to better themselves overall by posting their work here on the forum. At least some of them are trying their best to create something, rather than using a logo generator.

Alright, that's my voicing on that, and I meant no disrespect to anyone, but I thought it had to be said.

**dilrajs** · 01-07-2008, 03:06 AM

hi i m raj. i think u have a good knowledge about designing.anyone can take help from u abt designing.