What is a watermark? Most of us can identify a watermark if we see one but can we actually define it or explain what it is to someone else?
Don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of six of the most frequently asked questions about watermarks . . . and have taken the time to answer them as well!
What Exactly Is A Watermark?
Nowadays, the use of watermarks that most of us are aware of is the protection of digital assets. However, that being said, a watermark doesn’t have to be placed on a digital asset . . . in fact, it was used on physical assets long before the internet was even conceived.
The most basic definition of a watermark is any marking or image that is placed on an asset as a means of security (or to show ownership).
Even though nowadays most of us think about the protection of digital assets when watermarks come to mind, we actually do come in contact with physical assets that have watermarks on a daily basis.
Very basic and common examples of tangible items that have watermarks are banknotes (fiat currency) and postage stamps.
What Types Of Assets Can A Watermark Be Used On?
We’ve already answered “what is a watermark” – so what’s next?
As we mentioned above, watermarks can be placed on a wide variety of things – whether they be physical or digital. What are some examples of these?
In addition to the aforementioned banknotes and postage stamps, it is not uncommon to see watermarks on things like government documents, artistic files (screenplays, photos, etc.), and confidential company files. Watermarks can also be placed on virtually any type of digital asset, including images, infographics, videos, and electronic documents.
What Are The Legal Restrictions That Govern The Appearance Of Watermarks?
Certain government agencies have specific guidelines and restrictions that govern not only the use of their watermarks but also their overall size, shape, color, and other formatting aspects as well. Key examples of this are the watermarks that are placed on banknotes and postage stamps.
However, that being said, there is no overarching set of guidelines that govern the use of watermarks or their appearance. As a result of this, both companies and individuals have free reign over the size, shape, color, and other visual aspects of their watermarks.
Is A Free Watermark App Worth Using?
Now that you can safely answer the question “what is a watermark”, you’re probably now wondering if a free watermark app is even worth using.
Well, the answer is both yes and no.
A free watermark app that comes with no additional payments at all may seem very appealing; however, you should always be careful because these types of apps can sometimes come with very problematic caveats.
Thankfully, there are some relatively remarkable free watermark app options out there if you know what to look for – one example being “Visual Watermark”.
Many watermarking apps strip a lot of their features away in their free versions, making them relatively useless if you want to use them for serious jobs; however, Visual Watermark doesn’t do this. Instead, they give their users access to all of the features for free in the trial version of their app – the only limitation being that the text “Protected with Visual Watermark” will be added to the images along with your watermark.
Another free watermark app that is very appealing is “Watermarkly”. They also give their users access to a lot of their key features in their free version, with the only limitation being the number of photos that you can upload daily.
All in all, these types of apps – that give you access to a very useful free version – are beneficial because they give you the ability to test out the features before you commit to making a payment.
What Is The Fastest Watermark Application Speed?
There is no set speed for watermarking because several factors can affect the complexity of the process. However, you will always find that a professional watermark app will be faster than a free watermark app.
That being said, here are some factors that can affect watermarking speed:
- The quality of the watermark
- The image’s resolution
- The hardware specs of your device
- The number of images that you are processing
What Is The Best Design For A Professional Watermark?
Remember when we said that there are no set-in-stone legal guidelines that govern the use of watermarks? Don’t worry, that is still true; however, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an optimal way to design your watermarks.
The specifics of how your watermark looks will ultimately depend on your personal preferences; however, that being said, here are some tips that you should always keep in mind.
- Your watermark should be large enough to cover at least 30% of your image and be placed in a central location. This helps to deter thieves from being able to crop out your watermark.
- Your watermark should be semi-transparent and have colors that don’t overpower your image (monochromatic is best). This lets viewers easily see both the watermark and your image’s content.
- Your watermark’s text should be easy to read. It is recommended that you put a thin outline around the text – generally a solid white or black outline – to improve readability.
