If you send photos using the Internet, it is possible for someone to steal them and print or use them elsewhere. You can take measures to protect your photos, but there is no completely secure method for stopping determined thieves. The problem is that there are many ways that your images can be stolen and it is impossible to block most methods.

NOTE: The securest and safest method of protecting valuable digital images is to refrain from sending them through the Internet or posting them online.

Here are some measures you can take to protect your photos and deter people from printing or using your images:

• Watermark your photos with an overlay containing another image or copyright information. A watermark can be a visible logo or invisibly embedded into the image. A watermark in the image doesn't stop someone from taking your photos, but a watermark is difficult to remove and remains on the photo when it is printed.
• Place an embedded GIF over your photo using a style sheet so right-clicking on the image saves a transparent GIF rather than your photo.
• Reduce the resolution and print size to distort the photo if someone prints it.
• Embed your image files in Java Applets or Flash files to make it difficult to copy your photos.

We also recommend that you include copyright information in all correspondence regarding your photos. All of these are ways you can protect your photos. However, it is still possible for people to print or use your images if you exchange them using the Internet.

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