Watermarks

I apply small text watermarks on my cards, mainly to discourage copying of images. Am interested to know what other sellers think whether it discourages some potential purchasers, when they look at the images. Also if anyone has used watermarks, only to find that some naughty person has removed them with specialist software and copied the image ?

As a buyer it does sometimes discourage me as it distracts from the image you’re trying to persuade people to buy! It depends how intrusive the watermark is though.

I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything with a watermark on the photo, and I do buy a lot of art.

Now that I am in the Crafts business, a watermark doesn’t bother me as a buyer, as long as it is tasteful. I’ve seen some putting it on the product but they do it well so it doesn’t annoy. As a crafter myself, I understand why you put it there. If it gives you some peace of mind, then go for it, it’s your business. Maybe you can watermark some photos and leave some without just in case you get featured somewhere. It is true that some people are able to remove it. Maybe have your photos in low resolution to add a bit more protection?

As a seller I use a small, unobtrusive watermark when listing photographs and some photographic cards.

As a buyer, I’m put off by large watermarks that obscure a greater proportion of the image, as it is difficult to appreciate the composition.
I am not put off by smaller watermarks at all.

Sarah x

Of course, all watermarks are removed from images once a sale is made. I try and make the watermarks small and as unobtrusive as possible. I also have some software which allows a transparent watermark, whereby you can set the degree of transparency so it is even less obtrusive. I haven’t used that on Folksy yet, but have used it on another website. Problem is, there are so many permutations of ‘see-through’, font ,size, colour, etc, that I ended up with an enormous library of them !

I don’t like watermarks and am put off by them. Artwork never looks as good on screen as it does in real life and I think watermarking just adds to the barriers - as demonstrated by Margaret @Louisa15 who is a prolific art collector and has never bought anything shown with a watermark.

Watermarks aren’t ideal,but it is so easy to lift and print a photograph/print for free from the internet that they really are essential.
Obviously it wouldn’t be present on the actual photograph and should be small or unobtrusive enough not to obscure a large proportion of the image, but they are there for good reason.