I continue to be amazed at the number of sites that I have seen with ORIGINALS available where the site owner is selling their photos and where the owner appears to think that right click protection actually protects their photos. It doesn't.

SmugMug always uses the originals for printing, so blocking viewing access to the originals does not block use of the original to create the highest quality print.

If an image if viewable in a browser window it can be stolen. It exists on the computer on which the image is displayed, and it can be grabbed from that computer. If someone has access to your original for free, why would they purchase a copy of that photo from you?

Oh, you have right click protection turned on? That is merely a deterrent. It is not protection. By all means, leave it turned on - it's a nice way to show a message to your viewers. But don't assume that will stop the image from getting stolen.

From the smug help page at http://www.smugmug.com/help/image-protection:

Gotcha: SmugMug's right-click protection does not protect an image in a forum or blog post. To keep your images out of forums and blogs, block external links (see below). Gotcha: Right-click protection is a deterrent for image theft but it should not be considered fool-proof. To truly protect your images, lock galleries with a password or apply a watermark and disable original-sized image viewing.

Also see the blog entry http://news.smugmug.com/2008/07/04/r...mage-security/.

And turn access to your originals off unless you intend to allow (free) downloads of your photos. The setting is in the Security & Privacy section of this help page - http://www.smugmug.com/help/picture-storage.

--- Denise

Preach on, Denise!!!! Always a great reminder for everyone.

Just curious is there a way to code out the "Save Photo" option for certain galleries?

Originally Posted by Dota Just curious is there a way to code out the "Save Photo" option for certain galleries?

Set originals to no in the gallery settings and the Save Photo option will disappear.

As it is right now, your photos are up for grabs - as noted in the first post in this thread.

--- Denise

Setting your galleries to now allow originals should take no longer than 2 minutes.

Go to any gallery, Tools, Gallery Settings.

Choose "Multiple Galleries" to apply the setting change to.

Choose "All Galleries"

Click the box next to "Largest Size" and choose at LEAST X3Large.

Hit save, and you're done.

You may need to go to the gallery that houses your logos, etc.. and turn that back to Original if it changes the appearance of the site, but, otherwise, you should be pretty safe in doing this.

Great reminder! And so easy to do. Appreciate this tidbit of important advice from Denise and Dr David.

Therefore, they can still get away with X3Large etc..
Is NO original really a deterrent?

Originally Posted by pillman Therefore, they can still get away with X3Large etc.. Is NO original really a deterrent?

Yes, someone can steal an X3Large image. That is much much smaller than the original and doesn't offer anywhere close to Original quality for printing.

It's your decision though. Only you can decide what you are willing to share online. I want my online viewers to have a good viewing experience so I have X3Large enabled. There are others who choose a smaller size as the largest that can be viewed.

--- Denise

X3Large is low resolution... Screens only use 72dpi.. Print uses 300dpi. Try printing a 5x7 of the X3Large--it won't look that great IMHO.

I recommend adding a tasteful watermark too though.

David

Originally Posted by DrDavid X3Large is low resolution... Screens only use 72dpi.. Print uses 300dpi. Try printing a 5x7 of the X3Large--it won't look that great IMHO. I recommend adding a tasteful watermark too though. David

It is a fact that many people will be perfectly happy with a 5x7 print made from an X3Large image.

An X3 image is 1600px on the long side. Divide that into the long side of a 5x7 and you get 228ppi. That makes a pretty darn good print.

If one really wants to prevent good prints being made from screen captured images, then you must either limit your max size to something like L which is only 800px on the long side which would only be 114ppi for a 5x7 or put a tasteful watermark on them. Personally, I think it will cost sales to limit viewing to the L size so I think a tasteful watermark will work better (both for protection and sales).

A twitter post from someone not good enough to take their own good photos
http://twitter.com/ClintJCL/statuses/4093608146

I learned something new today. Thanks for the good info. I figured "right click protection" protected my photos.

Thanks for the info on this! Much appreciated!!

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg Set originals to no in the gallery settings and the Save Photo option will disappear. As it is right now, your photos are up for grabs - as noted in the first post in this thread. --- Denise

When I disable originals, I still see the save photo option...is there something else I need to do?

Originally Posted by smileabunch When I disable originals, I still see the save photo option...is there something else I need to do?

Log-out and then check again.

Tried that, but it didn't log me out all the way. Opened it in another browser and this time it worked. :) Thanks!

My images are at 600px on the longest side, with watermarks. I still have them set on originals though, as I figured the original resolution was low enough, but still viewable. They seem okay to me on screen.
Do you still recommend using X3Large in a case like this?

Originally Posted by pmbpro My images are at 600px on the longest side, with watermarks. I still have them set on originals though, as I figured the original resolution was low enough, but still viewable. They seem okay to me on screen. Do you still recommend using X3Large in a case like this?

What if you decide to replace an image with a larger size so it can be printed? Will you remember to disable originals?
And unless you applied the watermarks outside of SmugMug, there are no watermarks on the Original-sized files.

I believe that unless you intend to allow people to save your images to their computers you should always set your largest size to X3Large, not Original.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg What if you decide to replace an image with a larger size so it can be printed? Will you remember to disable originals? And unless you applied the watermarks outside of SmugMug, there are no watermarks on the Original-sized files. I believe that unless you intend to allow people to save your images to their computers you should always set your largest size to X3Large, not Original. --- Denise

Hi Denise,

Even though I don't have a Pro account (yet), I still use precautions, so my watermarks were made outside SmugMug via Photoshop. I'd be replacing my images with hi-res at that upgrade time anyway with stuff I'd actually be selling, but for sure I'd remember to switch from Originals at that point with the helpful one-step "multiple galleries" way, as someone mentioned earlier.

I guess I thought that if I used X3Large now with these images that are already so small/low-res, that they may look worse to the viewer. I may do a "test" later using the X3Large...

Originally Posted by pmbpro I guess I thought that if I used X3Large now with these images that are already so small/low-res, that they may look worse to the viewer. I may do a "test" later using the X3Large...

The original is used to generate the sizes - and I doubt that your visitors are viewing the original as it doesn't show anywhere by default.

--- Denise