Anyway to make web images not save able??

[Bugdozer]

Hi,

I have a question. Is there a way to have it so if someone tries to save a image from my website it saves it as a blank image. My son has created some images for our site and people are saving them and stealing them using them on their own.

Thanks for any help,

Bug

[ukcatfan]

I most cases, there really is nothing that can be done. There are some scripts that can be put on a site to disable right clicking, but in almost all cases, a screenshot will still work. Try it yourself by just pressing the print screen button and pasting in a program like paint.

[MICKEY88]

low resolution images with a watermark are less desirable for stealing

[Donold_Fan]

Yea, watermarks and low-res are the best route.

Even disabling right-clicking there are still multiple ways of grabbing them. All images are downloaded to the machine anyway, they could grab them out of temporary internet files. IE will let you save a web page, and it will download all images for offline browsing. Also, if they really wanted, they could view the source of the page and grab the location of the image and paste that directly into the browser. Then no script will run at all. That doesn't even include spiders that will steal the entire site or other 3rd party download software.

[ukcatfan]

My son has created some images for our site...

low resolution images with a watermark are less desirable for stealing

I could be wrong, but I read this as the images are graphics and not photos. If that is the case, there would not be any sense in watermarking.

[Donold_Fan]

I could be wrong, but I read this as the images are graphics and not photos. If that is the case, there would not be any sense in watermarking.

If it's graphics, not photos, you are absolutely right.

[RvUsa]

I was told by someone, I can't remember who, that either a picture or image, you can cover it up with a "clear" layer. This will discourage the casual "downloader" from swiping it. Like anything it is not fool proof.

When you make the page, place the image, and then place a clear image over the top of it, then when someone right clicks, they only get the clear image.... I have not tried it yet, I don't have anything anyone wants.... LOL But have seen it work in a example.

[MICKEY88]

I could be wrong, but I read this as the images are graphics and not photos. If that is the case, there would not be any sense in watermarking.

:confused3 Why not ?:confused3

[thomas998]

I was told by someone, I can't remember who, that either a picture or image, you can cover it up with a "clear" layer. This will discourage the casual "downloader" from swiping it. Like anything it is not fool proof.

When you make the page, place the image, and then place a clear image over the top of it, then when someone right clicks, they only get the clear image.... I have not tried it yet, I don't have anything anyone wants.... LOL But have seen it work in a example.

That works to defeat some of the stuff like mozzilas "right click" extension... but the can always do the print screen.

[RvUsa]

Yeah, I know, it just kills the casual downloader like me who will "borrow" images on all kinds of websites just to make a funny point on the dis... LOL
http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2007/11/funny-pictures-frog-sexy-hat.jpg

LOL see!!!

[RBennett]

Not to get TOO off topic, but I LOVE that website RvUsa!! I spent HOURS one night looking at those things, cracking up!! :lmao:

[ukcatfan]

:confused3 Why not ?:confused3

I am thinking of graphics like menu bars, the Mickey in your signature, etc. Those are things where it would defeat the whole purpose of the image.

[jfulcer]

Everyone else has made good points, there really is no way to stop it. You should think of it this way: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The only sure way to not have someone download you images is to not put them on your site.

[Super]

Anything you see in your web browse can be taken out of your browsers cache (IE it can be stolen) and that is even flickr protected photos.

The best bet is to watermark them which is to put some text over the top that says 'COPYRIGHT' or '<my name>' etc also adding lines across the whole image like big faint white X prevents people sharing it without giving credit to you. Also low resolution doesn't achieve much as a hi res with a watermark is just as bad.

But yeah... anything you see on the internet, or hear (like myspace music) can be downloaded to your computer directly and already is in the cache of your browser be it memory or harddrive

Heres a low res example:

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7219/img129645tonemappedcopyxe9.jpg

and original low res

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8326/img129645tonemappedlc1.jpg

[rtphokie]

Hi,

I have a question. Is there a way to have it so if someone tries to save a image from my website it saves it as a blank image. My son has created some images for our site and people are saving them and stealing them using them on their own.

Thanks for any help,

Bug

As others have said, there really isn't a way to completely prevent images/graphics from being downloaded. Any techniques are just going to make it more difficult or make the results less desireable.

Another technique that is especially good with graphic elements on a page is slicing the image up. Breaking an image into multiple pieces and reassembling that on the screen using div or table tags. Photoshop has tools that help you manage those slices and generate the necessary HTML to display it properly.

Take a look at this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVfxe4pqvo8)

[Groucho]

The most effective technique is to use Flash or Java, but those are a pain. For those, the person grabbing them is forced to do a screen print, which is a bother.

Anything other than that... just open up Tools, Page Info in Firefox and go to the Media Info tab. Find what you want and click Save As.

It's so easy that I don't think it's even worth trying to protect them. Right-click Javascript blockers are very annoying (fortunately, Firefox can block most of them with its built-in Javascript options), I can't stand 'em. If you really want to stop "casual" downloaders (if there is such a thing), make your image a background image. These can't be grabbed by just right-clicking and saving and aren't an annoyance. However, it's a little trickier to design the web page as background images are supposed to be exactly that.

[Super]

if the person knows what they're doing, javascript and html to stop them right clicking doesn't stop them getting your image.

for example if you go here http://flickr.com/photos/shilphotos/2871836571/ and try to save the image by rightclick and save, you get a spaceball.gif which is an image covering it to prevent you downloading it

but without even looking at the source I can find it either in my cache or look at what my computer requested from flickr.com and find out the image was this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2871836571_41c4975ffb.jpg?v=0

or here

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2871836571_41c4975ffb.jpg

[Bugdozer]

if the person knows what they're doing, javascript and html to stop them right clicking doesn't stop them getting your image.

for example if you go here http://flickr.com/photos/shilphotos/2871836571/ and try to save the image by rightclick and save, you get a spaceball.gif which is an image covering it to prevent you downloading it

but without even looking at the source I can find it either in my cache or look at what my computer requested from flickr.com and find out the image was this: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2871836571_41c4975ffb.jpg?v=0

or here

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2871836571_41c4975ffb.jpg

Hi,

You have just described what i mean. My son has created a forum for a new game and kids that are not very computer savy are stealing the graphics. How do you save it as something like that spaceball? This may deter them for a while at least.

Many thanks,

Bug

[orchjoe]

Getting screen shots is easier and easier now days too. All you need a program like lightscreen (which is free everyone) and it is a one button push on the keyboard to save a whole screenshot or even just the open window that is selected.

It is very handy and I use it all the time to take screen shots. I use it on everything from the websites I design to the payment confirmations from online bill paying.

I save paper and it automatically goes to where I direct it. Very handy.

[jfulcer]

Hi,

You have just described what i mean. My son has created a forum for a new game and kids that are not very computer savy are stealing the graphics. How do you save it as something like that spaceball? This may deter them for a while at least.

Many thanks,

Bug

It requires some knowledge of HTML positioning something called CSS. Essentially it's just a see through image pasted on top of the image you are trying to protect. I'm not sure how your son would be able to do it unless he has control over the format and layout of the forum. You can do some searches on google for it. This is one of the many examples: http://www.dreamincode.net/code/snippet397.htm. Again, I would be happy that the things he designed are something that others want to use. IMHO I'd just get over it and keep up the good work.

I still think it's not going to stop the kids. Even my six year old is more tech savvy than I would have thought. "Dad, my browser minimized and I can't seem to find it." Oh lord, where's my parental controls? I'm gonna need them.

[Groucho]

Getting screen shots is easier and easier now days too. All you need a program like lightscreen (which is free everyone) and it is a one button push on the keyboard to save a whole screenshot or even just the open window that is selected.
You really don't need any software, just hit the printscreen key for the whole desktop or alt-printscreen for just the active window, then paste it into an image app and save it.

I use Irfanview to paste and save it and it's so quick 'n' easy that I can't see needing a standalone screen cap program, unless you're doing something like writing documentation.

As for stealing 'em... I'd go with jfulcer and just learn to live with it, it's the nature of the internet. You won't be able to stop people from taking your images if they want 'em, no matter what you do. Whether you like it or not, that's pretty much the way it is...

[orchjoe]

, then paste it into an image app and save it

That is why I use lightscreen. I don't have to paste it and save it. It saves a jpeg automatically to a folder I specify.

I used it a lot when I would have to make user manuals for different programs at work. It is very handy and you don't have to go into an image program (like paint) and paste and save it.

Two keyboard buttons to push with no mouse involved.