TOP 5 Reasons to Add a Watermark to Photos

Brand

This article explains why watermarks are essential for any business and personal brand. We will also talk to you about how to use them correctly.

What Is a Watermark

A watermark is a label that indicates the authorship of the owner. It is used on photos, images, or documents and prevents images from being copied and used without authorization. For the first time, such marks were used in 1281 on Italian banknotes and papers. They helped protect money from counterfeiting. In the age of the Internet, adding a watermark to a photo allows you to save content from theft and promote the brand. You can add watermark to a photo as translucent text/logo.

Why Add a Watermark to Photos

The main reasons for adding a watermark to a photo are:

Protection of Images from Copy-Paste

Such a label will prevent attackers from using an image or photo on their site without your permission.

Marketing Promotion

The use of watermarks helps to promote the identity of the content owner for free. With their help, many photographers and designers have become popular in just a few years, as watermarks significantly increase brand awareness.

Corporate Design

With a digital watermark, you can express yourself. For example, a photographer or illustrator can put a branded watermark on their work, the way artists used to do. In this case, your recognition will grow after each publication of your work on social networks. This is an efficient and accessible way.

Systematization of Documents

A watermark can become a simple organizing tool in companies with much digital documentation. For example, using such a label, you can indicate which document belongs to which project or period. Tags are also intended to indicate the authenticity of legal documents.

Document Status Designation

It is convenient to use a watermark as a stamp for document status. For example, you can specify that the document is invalid, a copy, or a sample. It helps in organizing the workflow.

Where Are Watermarks Used?

Watermarks are common, so you can see them on:

stock images;
illustrations by professional designers;
works of professional photographers;
pages of an e-book or magazine;
legal documents;
images that are downloaded from certain sources;

Photographers and illustrators put such marks on their work or sketches. They can be seen in digital paintings and even Internet memes. Such professionals use patterns to protect content. Influencers also use watermarks, but they have a different goal – to increase brand awareness if the content goes viral.

Ordinary users can also put a watermark on personal photos they post on the Internet. This will protect your memories and identity.

Watermarks can be used not only on photos, but also on videos. In this case, the mark enhances the content’s safety and visibility.

Photos

How to Create a Watermark

The watermark must be visible. However, it should not distract attention from the main work. You don’t need to make it too small because it will be easy to remove. Remember that a too-large and catchy watermark is also not recommended. It will close the work and distract from the quality.

The type of watermark must be selected individually. It could be:

company`s logo;
the name of the master;
brand name;
Website address;
text (for organizing documents);
part of the image.

The watermark must be the same on all your works. Watermarks are usually discreet, small brand marks.

Where to Place the Watermark

When choosing where to place the mark, give preference to where it is more difficult to remove. You should not put a sign on a solid background, even in the middle of the frame. In this case, it can be easily painted over.

Here are a few tips for placing a watermark:

If the mark will be applied to a photo or video intended for sale, use a translucent effect on the entire image surface.
Most brands put a watermark in the right corner of the photo, so it does not obscure the essence of the image. However, the disadvantage of such a place is that the label can be easily cut off.
Photographers often put a mark in the center of the photo, as removing it without damaging the quality is almost impossible.
The best place to place such a watermark is the photo’s or illustration’s main subject. Place it on the part of the picture rich in details to make removing the sign as tricky as possible.

A great solution is to place a watermark that will almost blend into the background. So the label will not spoil the photo’s look but promote the brand.