help making image dragged from site different from displayed image?

[kungfu]

I'm looking for some help... I've seen some sites, where, when an image is dragged off, the saved file is 1px by 1px placeholder, or something of the sort. this is usually used as a deterrent to keep people from stealing images. I'm happy if people are pulling my images, but I want the dragged image to be pulled from a watermarked set...

I've googled all around to no avail... anyone got the know-how?

 

[iMeowbot]

Some people use something along the lines of this stupid div trick to do that. others use stupid javascript tricks to similar effect. You might need a combination to get the effect you want.

If you want to use a full replacement image instead of a small transparent overlay, consider that you'll be essentially doubling the bandwidth used to send a page. And also, that all these schemes can be defeated with a (very) small amount of effort.

Perhaps instead, consider an inconspicuous watermark on the one image. Or, consider a carrot: offer downloadable versions with higher resolution or whatever, but containing a stamp.

 

[ambient]

yehh i agre watermark is the way to go... people can always screen grab images too

 

[kungfu]

Some people use something along the lines of this stupid div trick to do that. others use stupid javascript tricks to similar effect. You might need a combination to get the effect you want.

If you want to use a full replacement image instead of a small transparent overlay, consider that you'll be essentially doubling the bandwidth used to send a page. And also, that all these schemes can be defeated with a (very) small amount of effort.

Perhaps instead, consider an inconspicuous watermark on the one image. Or, consider a carrot: offer downloadable versions with higher resolution or whatever, but containing a stamp.

yeah I know anyone with even a little computer knowledge can do a screen grab (if nothing else), but I'm really not try to prevent stealing here... in fact, I want people to take my images... I just want them to be watermarked when taken.

I've looked into that div trick, but the problem with that is that the overlay image needs to be transparent... it can't be another image altogether. do you know where I might find the javascript you referenced? I've been having bad luck with google.

also, that bandwidth issue you mentioned I am a little concerned about, too... but I figure if the primary image loads first, the watermarked one should be pretty transparent to the user.

thanks for the reply...

 

[iMeowbot]

Yeah, the layered thing does have issues when the top image isn't transparent, that's what I was getting at with "a combination".

One thing you might do is put the "real" images behind one big transparent window, and have little download links (can just be tiny icons, or you could even even make the images themselves buttons) above that. This would avoid the bandwidth doubling problem for users who are simply looking at the pictures online.

As an alternative, you could play with mouseover image flippy tricks, but this would have you wading back into double bandwidth territory.