Safely Hosting Images

[JDub]

Hi,

I am a photographer and would like to host my images on my website in a way that they can't be stolen.

http://www.phrozenphyre.com

I am not sure how to go about doing this.

Is there a way that I can put the files in a directory that can't be linked too and call the photo's with php?

Thanks!

-Jason

[(jj)]

You might want to check out B&T's Watermark Script (http://prettyworthless.com/tips.php?tip=watermark#tip)

[gil]

in addition to watermarks you might want to use a javascript that will prevent people

from stealing your images by disabling the the right click however i know that with

mozilla it can overwrite the javascript command that prevent you from stealing the

images but with ie it works like a charm here is a link that will get you started:

http://www.homestead.com/~site/scripts_LiveContent/LiveContent.dll?CMD=CMDShowUrl&URL=ProfessionalHelpPages_Archive32_1736

[(jj)]

Disabling the right mouse button features does little to prevent image theft, especially in IE. If someone wants the image bad enough, it's always available within their cache files and they can always do a screen capture to get what they want.

The only thing that disabling the right mouse button does, is to irritate those who use it to open links in a new window or tab.

[Dabrowski]

You might want to check out B&T's Watermark Script (http://prettyworthless.com/tips.php?tip=watermark#tip)

Especially for a photo site, a watermark would be the best. That's assuming that the end product isn't the browser-displayed picture on the Internet. If the images just serve to give the user an idea of what they will order prints of or download a high-resolution copy of, then go ahead and stick a big, obtrusive, ugly watermark over the center. It's easy enough to only let them view/access a clean copy if they've made some type of compensation.

Then again, if your website is designed simply to show off your photography, meaning that you want fairly nice, clean images to display to the world, then you might have a little more difficulty.

[gil]

your right jj whenever i want an image i do what you just mentioned but most non creative people will be discoraged if they right click button is disabled other than creating a password protected galley on your site your s. o. l

[Skunkboy]

This post comes to mind: http://forum.powweb.com/showthread.php?t=41018

[JDub]

Thanks for all the replies. I worked on it all morning, it's up and running. Your all welcome to check it out if you'd like.

http://www.phrozenphyre.com

[B&T]

Thanks for all the replies. I worked on it all morning, it's up and running. Your all welcome to check it out if you'd like.

http://www.phrozenphyre.com
Looks like you figured out the script and the direct link error process. Very good.

One more thing you may want to consider, with the watermark where it is your images could easily be cropped and used. A trade-off with having the watermark more obtrusive to the image. No right answer for this, just something to think about.

[gil]

http://www.phrozenphyre.com/displayimage.php?path=alt55sap/Maui.jpg reminds me of myself after a night of catnip

[JDub]

That cat was pissed off with I used the flash on her.

I am going to keep tweaking the site. Soon I'll have a transparent gif over all the pictures so if you right click and download the image it will be a 640x480 nothingness.

I'm not a programer at all so it's a matter of trial an error untill I get lucky.

All these pictures are shrunk down from thier orignal 2560X1920 size. If someone really wants to steal the 640x480 versions, I'm not to worried.

Besides... who wants a picture of a pissed off cat... :D

[B&T]

Soon I'll have a transparent gif over all the pictures so if you right click and download the image it will be a 640x480 nothingness.That does no good. The image is already downloaded to my PC. That is as useless as trying to stop a right click. The watermark and the direct link image protection - what you did - is really the only thing that works.

[JDub]

That does no good.

True, true... not much I can do in the end though. That's why I'm just making all the images 640x480.

I appreacite your script and helping me secure my site. Thanks much!

-Jason