How to Add a Transparent Copyright to a Photograph
- 1). Decide what your copyright text will look like. Choose a font that compliments your photography style. Use your name or your company's name and/or logo in addition to the copyright symbol. If your photos end up somewhere beside your own web page, they can be traced back to you. It may also make it difficult for someone to use a photo-editing program to erase the text. However, it will also cover more area on the photo, sometimes making it hard to see the image underneath. Choose something that will not be too intrusive.
- 2). Open a photo-editing computer program. Record the following steps for batch processing. Go to "Window" > "Action." Open a new action layer and name it. Choose a function key to run the operation later. Click the round "Record" button at the bottom of the layers palette.
- 3). Add the copyright information into a new layer. Open your photograph. Add a new layer. Select the type tool with black "ink" and enter the text you've decided to mark your image with. On a PC, type "0169," while holding down the "Alt" key, to type in the copyright symbol. It can be placed before or after your text. If you're using a premade logo, copy and paste it into a new layer. Use the move tool to position the object where you want it on the photo. To position the mark diagonally over the image, go to "Edit" > "Transform" and "Rotate." A bounding box will appear around the object. Drag the corners in the direction you want the object to rotate.
- 4). Add effects to the new layer. Right click on the layer and select "Rasterize type". Go to "Layer" > "Layer Style" and "Outer Glow." Select white as the glow color at 75 percent opacity and in "Normal" blend mode. Use "Softer" for technique with 3-8 size and spread. Go to "Filter" > "Stylize" and "Emboss." Slide the height adjuster to 10. In the layers palette, change the opacity to 35 percent and the blend mode to "Hard Light."
- 5). Click the square "Stop" button at the bottom of the actions palette. Save as two different version names before and after flattening in case you need to make changes later.
- 6). Open another photo to run the automated steps you recorded. Press the function key you assigned to the copyright mark action. Make adjustments to its size, position and opacity as necessary.
- 7). Mark an entire folder of files (batch process). Go to menu item "File" > "Automate" and "Batch." The name of the copyright mark action you created should be under "Play." Under "Source," the "Choose" button opens a browser window for you to locate the file of images to be marked. Under "Destination," "Save and Close" will save the mark as a new layer in the original file and resave it for you in the current location. You can choose to save them in a separate folder if you prefer.
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