Protecting dynamically serverd images

[CLuksha]

This client (No I didn't design the site - only added a backend :)
[url]http://www.flyinghorsephoto.com/Proofs.cfm?ERID=1579[/url] is wanting his photos
protected as best as possible from theft. Mostly the unexperienced image
thief. Is there a solution to protect images on the fly as they are served
up by CF?

ANy ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Chris

--
Chris Luksha
Echo Web Services
Making Your Website Resound
[url]www.echowebservices.com[/url]

[Stressed_Simon]

Unfortunately for the images to be displayed they will be cached on the users
machine.

You can always use JavaScript to disable right clicking. You can load a
transparent gif as the actual image and set the real image as a background of a
table cell, which means if they right click ans save image as they'll get the
gif.

My best suggestion is to use a Flash Movie and dynamically load the jpeg into
that.

All really tricky and time consuming.

[stpaz]

Hi Chris ,

the easiest way for your client to secure their images, is to watermark them
do a help search on whatever graphics program you use.

by simply plastering "Flying Horse Photo" in slightly transparent text on
pictures displayed ont he site will greatly reduce the chances of image theft.

[CLuksha]

Thanks all for the ideas. They are currently watermarking - somewhat.

I will look into the flash movie thing. The issue I have with the trans gif
is that I never know what size / scale the image will be until it is loaded
so I cant really guarantee the whole background image will show up without
creating another trans gif the must always be x height.

Thank you so much.

I will continue to look and if there are any other ideas - fire 'em off.

I don't know anything about Flash Movies. - tough work ?

Thanks!
Chris

--
Chris Luksha
Echo Web Services
Making Your Website Resound
[url]www.echowebservices.com[/url]
"CLuksha" <macromedia@echowebservices.com> wrote in message
news:d7kj3n$6ap$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> This client (No I didn't design the site - only added a backend :)
> [url]http://www.flyinghorsephoto.com/Proofs.cfm?ERID=1579[/url] is wanting his photos
> protected as best as possible from theft. Mostly the unexperienced image
> thief. Is there a solution to protect images on the fly as they are
> served up by CF?
>
> ANy ideas would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
> Chris
>
> --
> Chris Luksha
> Echo Web Services
> Making Your Website Resound
> [url]www.echowebservices.com[/url]
>

[Stressed_Simon]

Well if you don't know the image dimensions you are on a hyding to nothing. I
wouldn't recommend serving dynamic images unless they are all unform sizes or
at least within a know range. If they are not a uniform soze then you can't
easily go the flash route either.

In all honesty it sounds like watermarking is your only real option. To be
honest 72 DPI photos are only marginally useful anyway and protecting them is
pretty pointless, but as they say the customer is always right.

Good luck.

[dempster]

Any image that can be displayed in a web browser can be grabbed in one way or
another, even by inexperienced users (caching, screen printsor copies, etc.).
It appears that your client wants customers to preview proofs and then order
(and pay for) prints. The best way to prevent unauthorized copying is to use
lower quality images for the web site with a more intrusive text message
plastered on the image. I suspect if he makes it clear to customers that the
print is higher quality without the message, they will not be discouraged from
ordering.

-Paul

[externalError]

i don't think there is a perfect solution to this issue. we can still take a screenshot of the page and crop the desired image with adobe photoshop.

[NuroTec]

Yup, you can take screenshots of Flash movies as well so that's no help.
We have used the low-quality image with obnoxious watermark solution with good results.