Blocking graphic file right-click downloads

[Sereniti]

Hello, all -

I have several clients who need to display their photo and graphic work online but don't want low-quality printouts of their photos and other graphics circulating through the general public.

I know there are javascripts or other tools that will allow a site owner to block the right-click (or ctrl-click on a Mac) menu so that proprietary graphic files can't be downloaded. Instead of the menu popping up, a message pops up in its place. Where can I find such code?

Thanks.

[fathom]

Originally Posted by Sereniti

Hello, all -

I have several clients who need to display their photo and graphic work online but don't want low-quality printouts of their photos and other graphics circulating through the general public.

I know there are javascripts or other tools that will allow a site owner to block the right-click (or ctrl-click on a Mac) menu so that proprietary graphic files can't be downloaded. Instead of the menu popping up, a message pops up in its place. Where can I find such code?

Thanks.

There is no way to categorically stop imagery posted online from being circulated, although you can limit website functionality to the hill - which then begs the question why have it online?

You can always stop the honest people but once in the public domain the dishonest will find a way around any provisions you adopt preemptively. Thus zero protection.

I highly recommend using

Digimarc MarcSpider® image tracking which is part of Adobe Phototshop for embedding proprietary and trackable watermarks (but you still need the license to track).

You cannot remove the watermark, not by saving, editing, cropping or format chance, the only real limitation is if not digitally displayed online no tracking functionality is available.

This way you can find illegal copies - and by developing policy on your site for infringement - you can easily make the culprit pay in settlement.

Digimarc Partners

http://www.digimarc.com/partners/cur...ge/default.asp

[spronger]

I have to agree with fathom. There are plenty of JavaScripts around to disable right-click. They will not stop anyone remotely net-savy from getting to your files and only cause annoyance to those who use right-click for completely legitimate reasons. Why annoy your visitors? Not worth the effort!

Steve Pronger

[vfaulkner]

http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=268 has been another excellent discussion on the same sort of topic.

[Sereniti]

Thanks for the input. I agree with most of the responses, but it still doesn't address the question of where can I find the code. (Okay, so I'm not much of a programmer.) My clients (okay, so one is a non-client friend) want to slow folks down; they understand that nothing can be done to stop unauthorized download short of not displaying their art work or headshots at all. That option defeats the purpose of a web site where you can send folks - who will commission you or make a purchase - so they can see your portfolio.

Yes, I know about Digimark - my sig other used it in the past for a web site he maintained of his photos (which were intended for download but not for re-posting elsewhere) but didn't like it as it degraded the image quality, defeating the purpose of his site.

Besides, as noted in my original post, we're talking about discouraging folks who would print miriad copies and circulate physical prints, not who will rip off content for display elsewhere. While Digimark would seriously downgrade the quality and therefore discourage some of that activity, the last thing an artist wants is poor-quality copies of their work floating around. Ultimately, it reflects on their skills. Even at the Men in Tutus site we're still tweaking saturation levels to give the best possible appearance to the work.

The pics they're putting online are absolutely NOT the quality of the originals, they just want to limit the number of free-floating prints. (See http://www.menintutus.com and http://www.stephaniebeaton.com [in this case, it's a "let me see before I buy, then why buy if I can steal?" mentality].) At these sites, there is no legit reason to right-click and most visitors are anything but web-savvy, so the annoyance factor will be minimal.

Any thoughts?

[vfaulkner]

a 'customizable'script can be found at http://builder.cnet.com/webbuilding/...90-8-5421955-1

HTH

[spronger]

Here's a script courtesy of BraveNet. Lots of resources here:

http://www.stevepronger.com/bravenet.htm

Copy and paste right after your <head> tag:

<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
var popup="Sorry, right-click is disabled.\n\nThis Site Copyright
©2003";
function noway(go) {
if (document.all) {
if (event.button == 2) {
alert(popup);
return false;
}
}
if (document.layers) {
if (go.which == 3) {
alert(popup);
return false;
}
}
}
if (document.layers) {
document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);
}
document.onmousedown=noway;
// --> </script>

I still say, if you don't want it copied or printed, don't put it on the web!

Cheers

Steve

[spronger]

Originally Posted by vfaulkner

a 'customizable'script can be found at http://builder.cnet.com/webbuilding/...90-8-5421955-1

HTH

Hooly dooly. Make sure you 'customise' it or your client will be 'round to kneecap you.

Steve

[SyrenSong]

Sereniti -

You may also want to consider placing a watermark on your clients' images. It's a nice way of discouraging exactly what you're talking about.

Also, even if someone does decide to print the images, they'll be advertising that it's your client's work.

The watermark could be placed somewhere the obscures a significant portion of the image. Or it could contain copyright information. Maybe even the website address where it was found. Essentially, if anyone was determined enough to download the image for any use, they'd provide a nice "free" advertisement for your clients!

HTH!
Syren

[Sereniti]

Thanks VERY much. If you think about it, check out the Men In Tutus web site around mid-September. Once her show opens she'll be putting up lots of images.

Syren, the copyright notice/watermark is an excellent suggestion. We had discussed it, but somehow that thought slipped through the cracks :)

Spronger, that's a great resource - it just went into my bookmarks!

[vfaulkner]

oops, yeah, make sure you change the error message before you get hurt.
(not everyone has a warped sense of 'humor')
Sorry!
:-b

[press711]

Just thought I will put this here. i had once tried to copy an image by right-click from a site and every time i did i got a balnk image when i opened it in Photoshop.
If I open the file in IE it looks perfect. After repeated attempts I finally realised that the image was actually a GIF animation with the first image being a blank one and the next frame being the image.

[cvoll]

If you want to implement the right-click-disable, fine. But try not to delude your client(s) into thinking this will stop people from getting the image. If it is displayed on screen... people can and will download it. Dispite any efforts you make. I agree with others in this thread... If they don;t want people to get the image then DO NOT put it on the web. Period, paragraph, end of story.

[Squiver]

Stopping people stealing images is almost impossible to do. If they want it bad enough they are going to get it. For example there is no way to stop the print screen or programs like snagit. Also using a strong watermark makes the image look bad. There is no true answer for protecting something that is out in the public view.

Adam Smith
Squiver, Inc.
www.squiver.com
adam@squiver.com
678-795-9009

[copolsky]

<SCRIPT>function click() {if (event.button==2) {alert('YOUR 1 LINE TEXT MESSAGE\n YOUR 2 LINE TEXT MESSAGE\n You 3 LINE OF TEXT MESSAGE \n YOUR 4 LINE OF TEXT MESSAGE');}}document.onmousedown=click// - -></SCRIPT>

Brings a pop up screen with your text in when someone trys to right click to download.

By no means is this script full proof in the downloading of images from a website. As mentioned in the previous posts people with the know how can still use your images if they really want.

Brand your images with your website address onto the image itself nobody likes to display an image on a website with another website URL.

Clarence Opolsky
Marketing Internet Consultant

[wizwow]

Contrary to some of the above statements, I believe there is a way to prevent images from being taken. You must use some sort of visible protection to prevent screengrabs, but you can keep the image from being downloaded. (Of course if someone knows how to harvest their internet 'temp' files, the image can be had... but most, MOST, do not have a clue how to do this.)

Too long to go into detail, but involves a DIV, transparent Gif, Disable Right click, and image being served from a server-side javascript (which 'encodes' the image URL).

You can see it in action at:
http://thephototool.com/thephototool...ct/default.asp

Hope that helps.

[SyrenSong]

I was able to view the source code, find the name of the image and then save to disk using Mozilla. Here's the address of the image:
http://thephototool.com/thephototool/test_protect/5.jpg

Hmmm. I could do the same thing in IE using the pulldown menu.

Am I missing something here?

Syren

[wizwow]

Syren,
Nope - not missing anything with image #5. But - image #5 is not protected.
The other two are.
My bad, in that this is the old protection demo address.
If you go to the Demo of thePhotoTool you will see the protection in full.
My partner informs me that he will be making the full protection available on this page soon. It is, however, in full at the demo site.
Including: No right click / click and drag; No print; No Screen shot PC)(disabled alt key); No view source (as above on the two top images).
If javascript is disabled - the viewer cannot view the website.
See update in 48 hours, or visit the demo site for a closer look.
www.thephototool.com
click on "Demo" and then on "photography".
Cheers,
Don

[SyrenSong]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I can still get the image info directly from View Source in Mozilla.

And if I right-click on the image I want when it cycles up, then select View Image, I get the full image address - http://206.111.202.94/thephototool/homeart/4.jpg - and can see the image.

Sorry. I was really hoping someone had found a way. I've got a lot of possible artist clients if only.... :(

Syren

[Graf1771]

I know i might be a bit late to reply to this topic - why not put the image in a Flash movie.

You can't right click and download image from flash, it doesn't stop screen grabs of course, but fixes the problem of direct download, i think.

[zbatia]

Sereniti,

Here is a link to our Index that is used by our current and former students as well as many "outsiders" because it's free:
http://www.rtek2000.com/ouruseful.html#web

You can find there the links to ANYTHING the web designer needs.
Njoy!

[zbatia]

Wizwow,

**ANY** image that you see on the screen can be CAPTURED and than saved in any format. I can prove that there is no protection that cannot be broken. Therefore, the right web site policy is the only your insurance.