How to Add a Custom Copyright Notice to Digital Photos in PhotoShop CS2

Whoever takes or creates a photograph owns the rights to that photo, and that person automatically has the copyright to that photo unless they are creating a work for hire or creating the photo as an employee of another entity. But not everyone respects the ownership of photographs and photos are frequently used without the owner's permission or license. Adding a custom copyright notice to your digital photos is essential to protect your rights to ownership. Here's how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PhotoShop CS2 Digital Photograph

1. Open your digital photograph in PhotoShop CS2. Select "File," then "Open" or click "Ctrl+O." Then select the photograph you desire.

2. Use the text tool to type your copyright information. Click on the large "T" on the tool bar or click on the "T" on your keyboard to select the text tool. This will open a text box in a new layer. At the top of the screen, select the font, size, color and other text attributes you would like to use. Be sure to select a size and color that will show up on your photograph. Then hold down the Alt key and enter the numbers "0169" on the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard. This will insert the copyright symbol into your text box. Finally, type your name or the name of your business, however you want to show your ownership of the photograph--into the text box.

3. Move the text to where you want the copyright notice to show on the photograph. To move the text, click on the "Move" tool or click on the "V" on your keyboard to select the "Move" tool. Then click, hold and move your mouse to slide your copyright notice to the place desired.

4. Adjust the opacity of the text. While you want your copyright notice to show, you do not want it to obliterate the photograph itself, so it's a good idea to reduce the opacity of the text so it has a watermark effect on the photograph. Look at the "Layers" palette and you will see that the text layer you just created is the active or highlighted layer. Above this--still in the "Layers" palette--you will see a small sliding scale that says "Opacity." Adjust the slider and the opacity of the text layer as desired so it is visible but not distracting on your image.

5. Save the PhotoShop CS2 file so that you will have the original photograph intact and the copyright information saved on a separate layer so that you can use the photograph in your own work without the copyright notice. Select "File," then "Save A" or click on "Ctrl+Alt+S." Name the file with the desired name and save it in the folder desired. Be sure you use the "PhotoShop" file format.

6. Flatten your image. If you are posting your work to the Internet or otherwise making it available in a format where it could potentially be used without your permission, your copyright protection should be merged with your actual photograph to make it difficult for someone to remove it. Select "Layer," then "Flatten Image."

7. Save your flattened image--with the copyright notice--as a .jpg file (or other photo file format desired). Select "File," then "Save As" or click on "Ctrl+Alt+S." Name the file with the desired name and save it in the folder desired. Be sure you use the "JPEG" file format this time.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also create a copyright graphic to place on your digital photos to protect them in lieu of copyright text. You can also create an "Action" to expedite applying the copyright notice to your photos.
• Someone skilled in the use of digital manipulation software could still remove a custom copyright notice and pirate your photos, but having that custom copyright notice does make it a lot harder and helps protect your rights.

Resources

• National Association of Photoshop Professionals

[stokestack]

on 7/27/2009 Here it is again: Alt-0169 will not work on Macs. To get a copyright symbol on a Mac, press Option-G.

[stokestack]

on 7/27/2009 What happened to my comment?