So. Hmmm. Where to start.


I'm a tiiiiny little bit annoyed right now... and I doubt that writting this here is going to change anything because I guess I'm preaching convinced people already, but that's where it will be most visible, so who knows?


So, it appears that some people think that watermarks appear on my artwork of their own accord and that I'm like "OMG NOOOOOO a watermark what can I do?! I'm so doomed! How can I remove it?! OMG I suck at Photoshop....... what can I do?!".
And that they're doing me a huge favour by removing them.

Let's be clear: they're not. What a surprise.


Now, I'm not especially a fan of watermarks. They block some stuff from sight, they're certainly not pretty, they distract the attention of the viewer. I get that. I agree with that. I don't like them either, trust me.

But as everything, it's a balance of how much it costs against what it's worth. I *would* avoid watermarking if thieving didn't fly out of hand as soon as I don't watermark something. My ID isn't watermarked. It's supposedly a self-portrait. I thought it was something really simple and not deserving a watermark, because you know, it was for my ID, nobody was going to use it anyway? Riiiight? WRONG.
I've found dozen and dozen of people using that picture as their own ID on blogs, on Myspace, on websites, sometimes removing my name, plasting theirs and even explicitly saying it's their portrait. Go figure. It's not that I really care anymore, but it kind of proves the point that nothing is safe here. :/


So, erm. Watermarks are here for a reason. I don't mind if people use my stuff on their blogs, to show it around (that's free publicity, after all!), or even use it for their own use, for their blog layout, whatever. As long as the name stays put. Why? Because even if someone takes something from my website, and shows it around with credit, the second person that takes it doesn't take the credit along, and the credit gets lost. As simple as that. And don't even get me started on the *intentional* thieving, which is worse.


So, I'm annoyed by people who remove watermarks. I'm *twice* more annoyed at people who remove my watermarks and claim I should thank them for it, because you know, they make my art prettier and enable people to enjoy them fully. :/
(I should say I'm even *thrice* angrier at people who call me a bitch, on top of that.)


Two counter-arguments that I've heard dozens of times and that I disagree with:

- You don't need visible watermarks, all you need is a transparent watermark/your name in the file name/your name in the metadata : wrong. All that these can do is prove that the artwork is yours *if* it's been stolen and you need to prove it, and most of that stuff disappears if the file has been resaved, or ever so slightly modified. They don't work as credit attached to the picture.

- It's the internet, if you can't get along with the fact that your work can be taken and used then don't upload it, instead of slapping watermarks on it: that's in my opinion as intelligent as saying "don't bother locking the doors of your car when you park on the street, if you can't get along with the fact that someone can steal your car you shouldn't park in the street in the first place". If you have a car and you park it on the street, at least you're going to lock the doors and turn the alarm on, so that at least you prevent thieving. Same thing with artwork.


Last, but not least: while I really appreciate all the feedback and amazing support I receive on the internet, and without meaning to sound conceited or something... I work a lot on that stuff, and it means a lot to me. I choose to share it on the internet, where everyone can access it for free, from anywhere in the world. Obviously I don't upload it online just by pure kindness of my soul, just so that everyone can enjoy it - I also do it because it brings me a lot, on many levels! But it's annoying to hear (or, read) that some people take it all for granted. As if it should be free AND high-res AND without watermark AND with every right released..... I think that the fact that it's free for everyone to see is already not so bad, and I don't think that I am especially bitchy about allowing the use of my artwork, so... I'd also appreciate these people to acknowledge that after spending so much time of my "babies", I might not want to hear "You're a bitch for slapping that watermark on it which stops me from fully enjoying that stuff". Because if it wasn't for me, the picture wouldn't be at all in the first place, and there would be nothing to enjoy.