Belinda Leopold

THERE'S A NEW PROBLEM LURKING.........

Hey All!!!

My Sister has brought this one to my attention….

I’ve been uploading my pix quite large (as asked for printing at all sizes).

Anyway, there’s a pic of mine that has her pet ferret in it, and she decided to be naughty and do a right click and save it. It was saved at the size it was displayed, and there is NO WATERMARK on there. Sure, it saved as only a 6×4 inch print (high res!) BUT EVEN SO!!! A nicked 6×4 can be easily printed then SCANNED LARGER. I was under the impression that if a right click save was executed, the person’s pic would only be, say, 2×2 inches or something like that….(Just to be sure, I just tried the move myself and it did the same thing.)

Help RB Gods!! I now feel VERY NERVOUS about having my work up and out there….specially with no watermark!!!!

Bel xxx

rock, 10 months ago

Hi Bel, that was pointed out to me not long ago, it is a concern and should be looked into.

The watermark should be permanent and maybe in the centre of the image,
it should only be erased when work is purchased.

Ronald.
Belinda Leopold, 10 months ago

Hi Ronald!
Completely agree with you-Thanks!!!
RB gods????
LostBoy1, 10 months ago

um u better write them a list ;)
LittleHelen, 10 months ago

I agree Belinda…I saved one of my hearts and yeah…the resolution is off, but I could fix it to make it look much better. Would’nt take much.
A watermark through the middle looks unattractive to view…I know Deviant Art has a big ass one….but it saves your work from gremlins.
illicit, 10 months ago

ouch thats not good…I hope it is addressed rather quickly..
missmilly, 10 months ago

Oh NO! I am very nervous about this! RB please look into this….
Corrie Kuipers, 10 months ago

No, I don’t like that much either :-(

But even if they disable right-click there are still plenty of easy to get browser add-ons to grab images, sections or even whole pages of the internet. I think a big watermark in the middle of the image will do the trick…...even though it’s ugly.
Charles Dobbs, 10 months ago

I agree with the watermark. It needs to be in the middle, just needs to be a bit more transparent I think as to not make it too ugly.
Michael Lane, 10 months ago

Wow, thanks for bringing this to my attention too.
Antoine Dagobert, 10 months ago

wow its really2 dangers so RB should do something bout thi!thanks for bringing this to my attention
gordontant, 10 months ago

Belinda, I have just looked at some of your photos, and tried to save both previews, the best image is the one with the copyright, but the other one is not much smaller. I believe that is you had the fractal plug-in that can enlarge an image in Photoshop you would be able to make the image 10 times the size, I do believe this is a problem and redbubble should take it very seriously and remove the ability from right click and save.

Gordon
Belinda Leopold, 10 months ago

Thanks Gordon and the rest of you-So I’m not going crazy…..
Shanina Conway, 10 months ago

Hi Belinda, no your not going crazy,
I lost one of my images I uploaded to RB so I copied it, fiddled, enlarged and republished it with the changes
Belinda Leopold, 10 months ago

Eeeeep!
Shanina Conway, 10 months ago

I’ll say it was eeeep..wasn’t going to mention it, but seeing you’ve pointed it out, it should be addressed.
nodakami, 10 months ago

I agree with a semi transparent watermark in the center too
Joyce Dickens,..., 10 months ago

I’m all for the transparent watermark in the center – I’ve had this question in the back of my head about the safety of our work …...now my question has been addressed….thanks
gordontant, 10 months ago

What we should do is all email RB at earswideopen@redbubble.com and ask them about removing the save/copy ability on any images once they are uploaded
Torfinn Johann..., 10 months ago

I agree with all the others. Put thw watermark in the center, on the public pages. A problem for the RedBubble staff. I´m pretty sure they will manage to do that, so our stuff will be safer. Regards Torfinn.
Pilgrim, 10 months ago

We have put an enormous amount of thought and effort into this issue which we recognise is a problem. We know (because we tried it) that a watermark across the centre of the images will reduce sales. And it wont truly increase secutiy because they can be removed. Here is a forum thread which talks extensively about the different issues. The simple reality is that the biggest image people can steal is only useful for a very small reproduction (postcard or less). So do we want to impact all sales in order to protect against this?

Anyay here is the thread which also talks about right clicking etc

http://www.redbubble.com/forums/9/topics/2020?page=1
Pilgrim, 10 months ago

Oh and as a link
James Pierce, 10 months ago

Argh – Beat me to it – Thanks Pilgrim !
Belinda Leopold, 10 months ago

Thanks for your quick response James and Pilgrim.

I still think a watermark is a good idea (maybe not smack bang in the middle of the pic, but somewhere ON THERE).

What if in the section where we upload our pix there’s a box for uploading our “selling” size print, and a box for uploading our “reduced size/small/gallery” pic??? An idea at least…then RB would be the only ones who had control of that larger image.

The right-click issue is important-I can see the pro’s and con’s you have all pointed out. Jo made a good point.

I think the 2 different sizes is a good idea…...
Pilgrim, 10 months ago

But your work looks so beautiful in the large format with the watermark in the corner. The great joy of RedBubble for many of the non-artists (and artists) is to be able to see the work in a beautiful aesthetic environment. If we add big watermarks across the middle I know we will loose the people who come and buy. And if we lose them then we may as well not bother. I (and so many others) get the simple joy of seeing the bigger scale works. And we buy when we see this.

Disabling right mouse button clicking just will have no protective value as anybody can select part of a screen and save it. A right mouse clicked image has no bigger format than the original image on the screen.
betelnut, 10 months ago

Hey Pilgrim, can you allow watermarks for those that want them, and allow the rest of us to wing it? Or do you think this takes too much away from the asthetic of the site?
Pilgrim, 10 months ago

Betelnut, I just think it will ruin the buyers/browsers experience. It would be like walking around an art gallery and having half the works covered in packing tape.

It is also worth noting that if you put your image in a book it can be stolen just as easily as if it is on the web. People with a $100 scanner (which is most of the known world) can simply scan your image. And that would be at much higher res than it is on RedBubble.
Charlene Aycock, 10 months ago

yeah i agree too this makes me very nervous RB please fix this.
crackgerbal, 10 months ago

great blog here ! it raises a very important issue here at RB for all artists. im glad you brought it up and i might be forwarding it
GODD, 10 months ago

WOW THAT’S JUST LOVELY!
GODD, 10 months ago

ASK GOD
Sara Lamond, 9 months ago

I’m with you on this one Belinda…

Frankly, I hate the fact that the images aren’t watermarked better – seems a lot of others do too. RB is concerned about the buyer’s experience, but in this case, they’re hurting the buyers experience – there’s a lot of people that simply will not upload if this continues. I’d like the option to put a watermark on mine – either that or I’m going to have to tag them with my own permanent siggie that will show on the printed work….
Belinda Leopold, 9 months ago

Yes….I’m still feeling a little heated on this subject….they need to reconsider really!!!! I’ve noticed people have started to put their on siggie’s on…hmmm…...
Kerry McFarland, 8 months ago

I hate to consider taking my work completely off of RB, but since the whole Dako thing, and this (thanks for sharing it w/us Belinda), I’m considering it.
Belinda Leopold, 8 months ago

Hey Kerry….
Been thinking long and hard about all this…..I’ve decided (when i get round to it) to only upload small versions for my non-sale pictures, but still keep my for-sale pix at high res/full scale…..I know it’s not an answer, but i feel a little better bout it all. May not have anything for sale except cards, cos that’s all i’ve sold anyway LOL!!!!! Food for thought though….....:)
sue85, 3 months ago

Hey Bel, do you know if this is still a problem or not as i was going to put my work up?
Belinda Leopold in reply to sue85’s comment, 3 months ago

Hey Sue85-RB have now implemented the option of using a watermark on your work if u like, so it’s a a lot better. Go ahead and upload sum work-would be a pity not to :)