Hey,

whats the best possible method to stop users from downloading images?.

 

I know it is completely impossible to stop people from downloading images (thanks to the print screen key), but what is the best deterrent?

 

I know you can prevent the right click function (thanks to javascript) but i've seen another method that replaces the image you try and save with anther file (mostly 'image.php') anyone got any ideas on how to do this?

 

Thanks for looking

you could set images as backgrounds in css? that way it would be alot more difficult for them to be copied??

thats good!, i didnt think of that but i use the lightbox effect for my photogallery

You will never stop someone who really understands coding from downloading an image, but you can confuse the average viewer.

 

The two methods that seem best to me are:-

 

Layer a transparent image over the real image so that when someone right clicks Save As all they save is a blank image and then they may think that they can't download it.

 

Use a program that cuts an image into hundreds of bits, encrypts them and uses code to reassemble them on the screen and also disable screen print (perhaps the program disables this). I don't know where to download this and it sounds expensive.

Hi GoffyUK

 

Would you consider adding a watermark to the image? As you say it is completely impossible to stop people downloading the images, in fact if they are viewing them then they are already downloaded, but spoiling them would stop their reuse. If that doesn't degrade the whole purpose of your website that is.

Digital water mark, It doesn't use a visible sign but it does leave information in the file itself, so it won't help stop them downloading them, but it could help in tracking them down

I second Dizi's point. You're never going to stop people from stealing images anyway, and whilst you can protect it all you can with watermarks or transparency, these things are either going to make your website look poor or not work entirely. By placing a copyright notice and creative commons licences on your site informing people how they can or can't use them, you're covering yourself legally and by following Dizi's advice, you're able to track down anybody who uses your images without permission.

How do i go about creating a digital watermark that tracks what people do with the images?

 

Thanks for the helpful posts by the way guys

Follow this tutorial for information on how to create a digital signature for your photographs.

Some servers and hosts allow you to stop hotlinking (img src to your server). I'm sure there is an .htaccess script to block downloading. Of course there is always print screen. What you can also these two methods. Digital watermark them and if possible splice the images in to multiple parts. I understand that you use lightbox but there might be a way.

 

Please be sure to let us know what you decide to do.

Follow this tutorial for information on how to create a digital signature for your photographs.

 

 

Hi traxor

 

But this tutorial just showns you how to add a 'physical' signature. A digital signature envolves encryption with a private key. Which I assume is what Dizi was describing. A true digital signature would certainly not leave a visible sign. Whether it would be possible to track the image across the internet that was containing a digital signature I am not sure. Anybody got any more information?

I haven't personally done it myself so I couldn't comment on any software that could be used to achieve this, although the DWA (digital watermarking alliance) website might have some useful information, and some of its members provide software and also help with tracking http://www.digitalwatermarkingalliance.org

Honestly you might just want to put a watermark on your images.

Honestly you might just want to put a watermark on your images.

 

 

Arr go on. Where's your sense of adventure? Adding a digital signature to image files and tracking stolen images across the internet might be the next big thing.

I saw one company use swf (flash) files as graphics, with animated watermarks on. If you really wanted to go down that route. But yeh the only way would be to have a watermark on your images, similar to those found on istock photos

this link might help