Protecting Graphics

[EdgeCentral]

How can I protect my graphics from being saved by visitors on my personal page?

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-EdgeCentral-

[Karl]

The only way it can be done is to use a java applet that downloads the image into itself rather than letting the browser download the image and store it in the cache. the disadvantages to this method are:

1. Slow - Java applets are just to slow
2. Time consuming
3. Not every body has java enabled browsers



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Karl Austin
Webmaster - http://www.lincs.co.uk - Giving PHP a fair chance.

[WebKat]

'Watermarks' on your graphics and images may be one solution. If you manually put an overlay watermark on your graphics I'm sure that the pros could get around that, but for the most part it would at least initially prevent many from saving your work.

Also, check out the web site Digimarc which for $$ will imbed a watermark into your images and then they will able to track whenever they are saved by someone else. It sounds interesting

Our Photographers have the same concern regarding images and the ability to 'right click' their photos off our website. So I am investigating possible ways to prevent this from happening...

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PPSV WebMaster otherwise known as "WebKat"
Professional Photographers of Sacramento Valley

[crosswire]

There is a way to make it a little harder. There is a javascript that disables the right click. I dont know it but its out there, look on javascipt.com or something for it.

[Chad J]

Couple of things:
1. The above post refers to DHTML. The script only works in IE. Here is where you can get it:http://dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex11/noright.htm

2. You could use a javascript rollover that changes the image to a blank image onmouseover. This way they would only be able to copy the blank image.

Hope this helps,
Chad

[bgotty]

Crosswire is right, I have also seen this as a Javscript.

For DHTML: http://www.dynamicdrive.com

For Javascript:
http://www.javagoodies.com

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Bryan F. Hogan
http://www.hungryweb.net
bhogan@hungryweb.net

[Plebius]

Use a CGI script to display your graphics that 1) uses appropriate HTTP headers to prevent browser cacheing and 2) doesn't render the image when it is being saved or when there is no HTTP_REFERER variable defined.

[Hierophant]

Actually the first script I saw that disabled right click was in Netscape. The way you do it for both scripts is to create mouse tracking code (see www.bratta.com) and insert a layer with a transparent gif between your cursor and the image. Then when they right click they save the transparent gif all the time.. Of course the user only has to look at the source of your page, type the address of the image directly into the location bar and the can get the image that way. Also Every single image is saved to the cache as stated before. If I am looking for public domain art for a project I just copy it out of my cache when I am done browsing using ACDSee.

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Wayne Luke

The Majormud Encyclopedia - www.bloodquest2.com
Come Play one of the hottest games on the net.

[CravinSphere Design]

another solution that is better than java is flash, but then there is always screen capture programs. Digimarc works well, even in print the signiture still exist and very hard to alter.

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CravinSphere Design
http://graphic.8m.com

[Karl]

the ONLY one that works (Feasibly - see above about Java) is as suggested to use a CGI script to render the image, the javascript one's will NEVER work, once the image is downloaded it is stored in the browser's temporary cache ready for them to 'borrow' it.

Also digimarc doesn't cost anything now for watermarking, you can get it for free. The only snag is that they only store basic details about you in there database.



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Karl Austin
Webmaster - http://www.lincs.co.uk - Giving PHP a fair chance.

[PGA]

Try using ASP. Look at this code:
http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/110398-2.shtml

[NickB]

Whatever you code into your page, all someone has to do is press print screen to stick everything into the clipboard. They can then edit as they please...

[PGA]

It's true. But I don't know if quality would be the same.

[from.mars]

Why don't you just add a small © 1999 Your Name somewhere on your graphic.
http://weswin.tripod.com

Wes

[Karl]

That's not true about having to press print screen and the whole screen is captured. Most java applets to do this job use overlay (Like DVD Does) which stops you capturing the graphic, if you capture a DVD screen with print screen all you get is a black screen where the overlay would go (Note: If you view the captured image while the DVD is still paused in the background you will get a picture, but not when you close the DVD).


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Karl Austin
Webmaster - http://www.lincs.co.uk - Giving PHP a fair chance.

[Hierophant]

It doesn't matter what method they use to get your graphics. It can be done no matter how you load it. If with Overlays. If someone went through all the trouble to program that, someone else got their kicks by creating a program to defeat it. The best thing you can do is create graphics that work for your website. Most of the times it won't matter if someone takes them because they are custom for your website. If you are posting your art on the internet either use low quality images for display so that they still want to buy the real thing or go with digimark and mark your images. As long as a viewer can see it they can capture it one way or another even high tech devices like DVD can be circumvented.

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Wayne Luke

The Majormud Encyclopedia - www.bloodquest2.com
Come Play one of the hottest games on the net.

[Tom]

Every picture can be saved, using printscreen or special capture programs...

That Javascript (disabling rightclick) doesn't work: try this:
- lefclick
- hold that
- rightclick
- release leftclick

Then the menu comes...

You can also check the HTML from VIEW -> SOURCE, or get it with Telnet (connecting to wwwserver on port 80 (mostly), then type GET /index.html (or whatever)).

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- Dutch Webdesign Forum: http://www.antoniswebmedia.com/wdforum

[jenea]

Interesting...
I think that disable right click is good for beginners, 'coz you can hold left + click right, and relise left..so it's popups again.
(but other "disable click" works better. But you still can steal images and everything from web page. Coz if you really wanna steal image, you can go to your (sample) /WINDOWS/TEMP/ directory, and there is all your images :-) (till browser is closed, or may not if in conf. different settings). So even CGI will not work for 100%. Coz you can always use /TEMP/ dir. in your computer (or something).
I've thinking about flash before... sounds good, it has fast downloading time... you can even zoom + on it or something. But ill be stay away from Java, coz its tooo slow, to use it for every pix. on your web site :-)
About that "small (C) on your images", that is EASY to remove with any (almost) photo programm, such as Adobe Photoshop or something... I've did it before...20 sec. and (C) 1999 Someone.com is gone.... lol.
Of course all above for Pix. that really mean something, not for "WEBMASTER RESOURCES" logo above :-). If you got real Monna Lisa or so..., make sure you only one who have it :-).