How big is too big? The Resolution Dilemma

Published by Nick Ladd | Filed under Web Publishing

There are few things more insulting to an artist than having your work stolen. Disagree with my work, make fun of it, call it horrible names, ignore it…just don’t steal it, especially to publish it elsewhere without my permission.

With all of the recent coverage of the Rebekka scandal on Flickr, it got me thinking (as well as others) about how big is too big when posting online? One would think that limiting the size of your photos and/or including pervasive watermarks would be the only foolproof method of protecting your work online. Therein lies the problem, I personally don’t think either works…

Why Limiting Resolution Doesn’t Work
I know that when I post my images to my Flickr site, I do so with the purpose of sharing my images with the broader photography community. I want these images viewed in the highest resolution possible in order to show them in the best light. Overly compressing the JPGs and limiting the dimensions of the images seems to go against the purpose of posting them to begin with.

Everything I post online is typically at 72dpi with a width of 600 pixels. They is equivalent to 3 inches wide at 200dpi or 2 inches wide at 300dpi (without re-sampling). I have never had any of my images stolen for print media, but even if I did these specs wouldn’t produce very nice quality prints (at least of significant size). Without exception, all of the images that I have had stolen have ended up on websites (the majority of which were poorly done travel sites created with the intention of generating advertising revenue). This is particularly painful because it makes my work appear tacky and commercialized. Unfortunately though, limiting the quality of the images I post online really wouldn’t prevent this either:

1. These websites don’t really care about aesthetics
2. Even if the images I post online are less than say 400 pixels wide at 72 dpi, they would still be an acceptable size for use on these websites.

Why I don’t like Watermarks

Personally, I don’t think watermarks work. Whether you see a watermark as the ‘artist’s signature’ or simply graffiti on the wall, they all can be distilled into two varieties:

1. Small, unobtrusive in the bottom right hand corner watermarks might be aesthetically acceptable, but they are easily cropped out.
2. Large, obtrusive watermarks in the background of the image tend to be impossible to crop, but also (IMO) destroy the beauty of your photos.

So, what can you do to prevent theft?

Unfortunately, not much. If someone really wants your image, they’ll take it. All that you can really do if frequently search the web for your images and be proactive in defending your copyrights. I’m sure there are other methods of protecting your work, but I have yet to find one that is easy, effective, and doesn’t destroy your images.

Anyone have any good ideas?