How best to post images to prevent theft

[Former_Member]

Hello Team,
Thank you for letting me join your group.
I'm interested in finding out more about preventing image theft on Esty.
Has anyone had files stolen? Is it best to use watermarks and is there any other methods in preventing theft.
Thank you again.
Look forward to doing business with you.
Please visit my new store MESHspace.
Kelly

[Former_Member]

Hi Kelly. The best way to prevent theft is to use small image sizes, so they can't be printed at large sizes if they are stolen. As far as watermarks, I use them, as do some others, and some don't. I have mine in the lower corner so they wouldn't really help against theft, but if someone just copies my picture to Facebook or somewhere else their friends would see my name. I haven't had any images stolen thankfully, and hope I don't. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Hi there! about making the images smaller GREAT advice !! :) ... what i do is to put big watermarks that sometimes are translucid, so the image can be seen behind it and is not lost. Hope this is helpful :)

[Former_Member]

Watermarks is one and smaller size with gif saved for Etsy.

[Former_Member]

Hi .. What are you sizing them at so they will be small enough but still look nice?

[photosbyakp]

When I post my photos to Etsy i'll post them no larger than 900 pixels on the largest size - and or what ever the minimum that Etsy suggests, and Yes, I do a transparent watermark - stratigically placed within the photo where if someone was to crop the photo that they are still gonna get my initials :) .. and if you use Photoshop, you can create a digital watermark within your file as well.

I havent had any issues with theft ... good luck!

[Former_Member]

I also size mine down to about 900 pixels. I believe Etsy's suggestion is somewhere between 800-900 horizontal pixels, so in portrait orientation you have to either have some white space on the edges or go slightly larger to fill it in.

[Former_Member]

Does anyone know how common image theft is from Etsy shops?

[Former_Member]

I've heard about it a few times, but I don't think it's ever happened to me. Well, actually it sort of did...Someone told me they weren't going to buy my photo because their brother could print it for them way cheaper. I immediately removed it, resized it so it couldn't be enlarged, and relisted it. I then reminded the person that what they were doing was theft, and asked them to please not do it. I don't know if they tried, but I hope if they did they at least give me credit when their friends ask about the blurry picture hanging on the wall.
Of course, there could be photos of mine all over the world that have been stolen and I might never know...

[Former_Member]

This is the one they tried to steal.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/68745226/red-yellow-orange-autumn-birch-trees

[Former_Member]

In the Etsy Success Online Labs videos, they recommend posting photos in small sizes so they look good in your listings, but won't look good when enlarged. They also recommend this over using a watermark.
Now that I have more than 70 high-resolution photos listed in my shop, it looks like I have a lot of shrinking to do!