What do Google, Starbucks, and Nike have in common? Three very different companies and brands with one unique connection – they are some of the most universally recognizable trademarks in the world.
Trademarks are symbols, designs, signs, or expressions that help identify and distinguish one product from another. They also represent ownership and prevent others from stealing or using the same idea or design.
So, what does this have to do with you and your feet pics? Everything! One of the biggest risks of selling feet pics online is having your content stolen (second only to having your money or identity stolen). Sadly, the Internet is filled with wrongdoers looking to swipe your high-quality foot pics and resell them for a profit. To prevent others from making money off of your hard work, it’s imperative you add watermarks to your images. But what are watermarks, how do they work, and are they difficult to make?
Keep reading for answers to all of these questions and more as we explore how to watermark feet pics and protect both yourself and your work.
What is a Watermark?
Similar to a trademark, a watermark is an identifying logo, pattern, or image that appears on a photo to distinguish it from others. Watermarks come in various shades and range from dark black stamps to transparent or white text. Over the course of history, watermarks have been used on currency, postage stamps, and other government paperwork to help prevent counterfeiting.
Today, watermarks are commonly seen on photo stock images and other online artwork to prevent theft and use without permission from the original artist. Placed as an overlay on digital assets, these transparent markings are visible without taking away from the beauty or originality of the photo. Once a customer pays to download the content, these markings are removed. Watermarks help you claim ownership of your feet pics and allow you to create “teasers” or previews for potential customers to view before making a purchase.
How to Watermark Feet Pics
Even if you have no experience with trademarking, learning how to watermark feet pics is fairly simple. With plenty of online resources available, you can easily add these identifiable markings to your foot content so you can produce and promote your original content with confidence.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to watermark feet pics with recommendations for the best techniques and programs to use.
Choose a Foot Pic or a Batch of Foot Pics
Depending on the software you choose, you can add watermarks to individual foot pics and files or to batches. Before you watermark your feet pics, they need to appear in a public location online where others have access to and can download them. Most foot content creators watermark all of their feet pics, but you can also pick and choose if you don’t feel the need to trademark all of them.
Copy the Selected Photos
Once you decide which feet pics you plan to watermark, you can start making copies. You want to avoid watermarking your original copies because then, they’ll be ruined. Instead, adding watermarks to copies of your favorite images protects and preserves the original.
Select a Watermarking Technique and Software
There are several watermarking software, techniques, and apps to choose from. While some charge you per image, others charge a flat fee or offer a free trial. Some of the best and most user-friendly watermarking apps include
- WaterMark for Windows PC
- Resize Master for Mac
- eZy Watermark Photos Lite for iOS
- Add Watermark on Photos app for Android
Some watermarking software also offers editing tools. Editing your foot content is another way to ensure you’re delivering a quality product that builds your brand awareness and attracts a large customer base. These apps and programs include
- 123 Watermark
- Easy Watermark Studio
- iWatermark Pro
- TSR Watermark Image
- Marksta
Choose to Watermark Your Feet Pics Individually or in Bulk
You also need to choose whether or not to watermark all of your photos at once or apply watermarks to individual photos. There are pros and cons to each approach. Watermarking all of your photos at once or in batches means that the imprint will appear in the same place regardless of what’s in the image.
For example, if you choose to place a watermark in the upper right-hand corner of one photo because it’s out of the way and doesn’t interfere with the beauty or quality of the image, this spot may not work for another photo. When you add watermarks to your feet pics in batches, you run the risk of poor placement on certain images. On the other hand, adding watermarks to feet pics individually can become quite time-consuming.
One way to save time without compromising the quality of your work is to add a transparent watermark to the backdrop of your feet pics. This way, regardless of the picture’s layout or size, the watermark will appear in a light, barely noticeable font without stealing the spotlight or taking away from the integrity of your work.
Choose the Size and Type of Watermark
Not all watermarks are the same. There’s some flexibility and variety when choosing watermarks for your feet pics. You can use a word or text like your name or initials or an image that represents your brand – like a logo. You can also choose the color, size, and transparency. While most of these selections come down to personal preference, some watermarks work better than others.
For example, you don’t want a watermark that’s too dark or too large. Both of these will distract viewers from the beauty of your feet pics and act as an eyesore more than anything else. The watermark you choose should be light in color and subtle while still representing you and your brand. Watermarks that are too small, however, can be cropped from photos more easily. Professional online scammers and con artists with experience removing watermarks can use their own editing software to crop your watermarks out of your photos and steal your content. To prevent this, choose a watermark size that is noticeable without being obnoxious.
You should also consider adding a copyright symbol to your watermark. Adding a copyright symbol eliminates any question that the image isn’t yours or that it’s free for others to download and use as they see fit. With a watermark and copyright placed on your feet pics, no one can copy or use it without your permission. Adding a copyright symbol to your watermark is also free and easy. In Microsoft Word and similar software programs, all you need to do is visit the “Insert” menu and choose “Symbol”. From there, scroll until you find the iconic copyright symbol (which is a C in a circle, and insert it into your text.
Apply the Watermark and Upload Your Photos
These are the last few steps in the process of adding watermarks to feet pics. Once you’ve designed your watermark, use your preferred software method to add individual or multiple watermarks to your images. This step shouldn’t take long since you’ve already done most of the leg work (or, should we say, footwork?).
Once your watermarks are successfully in place and you’re pleased with their appearance, it’s time to upload the final product. Make sure you upload the correct copy of your foot pics and keep the original stored somewhere safe. You can easily create a desktop file that contains different folders for storing your watermarked images separate from the original copies.
Once prospective buyers view your foot pics and make an offer, you can release the final image to them. Although it’s every seller’s preference whether they collect a full or partial payment ahead of time, it’s never a good idea to release your foot pics without confirming or receiving payment beforehand.
The Pros and Cons of Adding Watermarks to Feet Pics
Who knew there was a downside to adding watermarks to feet pics? While these markings and logos are a great way to protect your feet pics and prevent theft, there are some drawbacks to consider.
Here are the pros and cons of adding watermarks to your feet pics so you can make an informed decision about the future of your content.
Pros of Watermarks for Feet Pics
There are plenty of reasons to learn how to watermark feet pics. Whether you have a few followers or thousands, watermarks can help establish your work as a professional and protect someone from making a quick buck off your blood, sweat, and tears.
Here are a few other reasons why taking a few minutes to add watermarks to your feet pics could save you headaches and heartaches down the road.
Protection
This is the main reason people add watermarks to their feet pics and other digital assets. Adding watermarks makes it more difficult for scammers and hackers to steal your images and sell them elsewhere. Watermarks are also a subtle way to protect your feet pics without impacting the integrity or the beauty of your work.
Brand Awareness
A thoughtfully crafted watermark should represent you and your foot pic brand. Whether you choose a logo, small image, or text, over time, your watermark will become instantly recognizable to your biggest fans and followers. The more often online foot pic buyers see your watermark appear on their favorite foot pics, the more they’ll associate high-quality work with you and your brand.
Control Over Your Content
Seasoned foot content creators can relate to this feeling. You work tirelessly to create a flawless, beautiful foot pic only to see it displayed on a sketchy website or in an ad campaign for foot fungus. Although some foot pic sellers don’t care (after all, money is money), others want complete control over how and where their foot pics are used. By adding watermarks to your foot pics, buyers can’t simply purchase, download, and post them wherever they want. Before you release the final image free of watermarks, ask questions about where and how they plan to use the photo. From there, you can make a decision you’re comfortable with and only sell your content to outlets you approve of.
Cons of Watermarks for Feet Pics
In life and in online business, there are no guarantees. Just because you add watermarks to your feet pics doesn’t mean all of your worries and prayers have been answered. Adding watermarks to feet pics also takes time that some content creators don’t feel like wasting. But is adding watermarks to feet pics a waste of time?
Check out these potential drawbacks of the practice.
Doesn’t Offer Guaranteed Protection
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And sadly, scammers and con artists have gotten pretty good at removing watermarks and stealing content that doesn’t belong to them. Just as there are apps made for adding watermarks to digital assets, hackers have developed software to remove them.
You may think that the more complex and detailed your watermark is, the more difficult it is to remove, but this isn’t always the case. Sophisticated software in the hands of the wrong people means your foot content is at risk of being swiped, stolen, replicated, and sold for a profit – watermark or no watermark.
Prevent Your Content from Being Shared
Building your online brand and gaining recognition as a reputable foot pic seller and content creator takes time and effort. Marketing your work on social media, engaging with foot lovers on various platforms, and investing plenty of time and attention to detail can all help. Another way to get noticed in the saturated foot pic market is to have a fan or follower share your work. The more shares you collect, the more visibility your work gets, and hopefully, the more sales you’ll make.
Unfortunately, adding watermarks to your feet pics makes it difficult or impossible for even your biggest advocates to share and brag about your work. Social media channels, blogs, and companies can’t showcase your work with watermarks without your permission, which means they may skip over your content to share someone else’s that’s free of watermarks. The particular brand or company may also forgo your foot pics with watermarks because they don’t want legal headaches or issues with using your content without permission. Adding watermarks to feet pics could lead to missed opportunities.
They’re Difficult to Distinguish
As unique and identifiable as you may think watermarks are, in many cases, they’re difficult to see clearly or decipher. This is especially true if you create a very small logo that only you recognize or use a calligraphy font. Illegible watermarks can diminish the quality and beauty of your work without offering adequate protection. Some foot content creators don’t believe it’s worth the risk or hassle of adding these markings to their flawless images.
They Take Away from the Beauty of the Work
It’s already been said, but it bears repeating. When you watermark feet pics you’re running the risk of ruining your work. Chances are, you spent ample time taking and editing your foot pics. Adding props and accessories, experimenting with angles and lighting, and retaking dozens of photos just to get the perfect shot. And within a few clicks of your mouse, all of that hard work could go right out the window. Think long and hard before adding watermarks to your beautifully crafted and polished foot pics.
Tips for Choosing the Best Watermarks for Feet Pics
If you do choose to watermark your photos (and there are plenty of reasons to consider it), there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind. Remember, you want your watermarks to be subtle, professional, and effective without negatively impacting your potential for success.
Choose a Simple Design
Your watermarks shouldn’t be overly complicated. Avoid trying to do too much at once. Especially if your watermarks are small (which they should be). Text in a basic, easy-to-read font is often the best choice. Avoid creating a complicated logo with lots of detail. For the logo to be seen, the watermark would need to be large, and that’s something you’re trying to avoid. A little goes a long way when creating a watermark that protects your work without diminishing the overall quality and appearance. The goal here is to create a watermark that’s small enough to blend into your image but large enough to be legible and difficult to remove.
Use a Monochromatic Design
The complexity of your watermark is only one of the features to consider. You also have to choose a suitable color. Stick with a single color like white, gray, or black. Never use bright or vibrant colors that draw the viewer’s eye away from the main focus of the photo – your gorgeous feet! Watermarks with too many colors appear unprofessional and messy. If you choose black, be sure to make it transparent so it blends into the background of your photo instead of sticking out like an obvious stamp or marking.
Keep it Vertical
Vertical watermarks are more aesthetically appealing than horizontal ones. They take up less space and are easier to hide and position. The rule of thirds in photography is that if you break your photo into thirds horizontally and vertically, the main focus of your picture (aka – your feet) should fall either on the lines of separation or where they intersect. This helps properly capture the main subject of your image. It also makes your photo more impactful and draws people’s attention where you want it. By inserting a vertical watermark, it’s sure to get noticed and, therefore, deter potential scammers (maybe).
Consider Proper Placement
Properly placing your watermark is about more than choosing between a vertical or horizontal image. You also need to choose the ideal placement for your watermark. The most common spot is in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture. This draws the viewer’s eye for a moment, so your watermark gets seen without taking too much attention or focus away from the main image. Placing watermarks in the bottom lefthand corner of your feet pics will achieve similar results. The top right or left-hand corner of the picture aren’t ideal choices because they draw too much attention and can be distracting. You can also choose to place the watermark in the backdrop of your photo as a transparent image.
Watermark Alternatives
If you want to protect your photos without tainting them with watermarks, you’re in luck. There are alternative options for decreasing the chances of your foot content being stolen, sold, or used without your permission. The most popular way to detect fraud and see if your feet pics are being misused is to download an app designed to look for unauthorized images online. Using a quick scan and algorithm, these apps can detect if your foot pics are being used or posted without your authorization.
The most popular options include
- Google Image Search (free)
- ImageRaider (free with upgrades)
- TinEye.com (free with upgrades)
- Digimarc (requires a payment)
While these apps can help find your photos online, it’s a painstaking process. Don’t waste your time searching every single photo you’ve ever taken or posted but, instead, only search for those you care most about or are worth the most to you.
Protect Your Peace and Your Feet Pics
Learning how to watermark feet pics is an important part of building a successful foot pic business – when they work. There’s no guarantee that adding watermarks to your content will stop a highly skilled hacker from removing them or finding other ways to swipe your images. Some content creators also feel that adding watermarks to feet pics acts as more of a distraction and deterrent than a benefit.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you do choose to add watermarks to your feet pics, make sure they’re minimalistic, monochromatic, and stragtically placed. If you forgo this protection method, consider others like apps or software that scour the internet for duplicates of your foot content.
Be sure to browse the rest of the blog before you go for more important information and advice on successfully navigating the lucrative and rewarding world of selling feet pics!
