How to Remove a Watermark LIKE A JERK

Howto & Style

Introduction

Hello there! My name is Aaron Rutten, a digital artist, and in this video, I’ll show you how to remove a watermark. We'll explore a few different kinds of watermarks and techniques for removing them. However, the primary goal here is to raise awareness in the art community about art theft and demonstrate how easily watermarks can be removed, so you can better protect your artwork.

Disclaimer: This tutorial is for educational purposes only. I do not encourage anyone to remove watermarks from anyone’s images—it’s unethical, uncool, and legally risky.

The Reality of Watermarks

At one point, watermarks were an effective way of protecting artwork, but as software like Photoshop improves, watermarks are becoming less effective. This video aims to highlight the vulnerabilities of watermarks and offer better solutions for protecting your artwork.

Types of Watermarks and How to Remove Them

Here, I use a painting of a dragon and a unicorn, watermarked in multiple ways:

  1. Copyright Text: Text at the bottom/top of the image.
  2. Signature: A handwritten signature.
  3. Large Central Logo: A faint logo in the center of the artwork.

Let's explore how to remove each type.

1. Removing the Copyright Text

  • Cropping: The simplest method to remove copyright text is cropping. You lose a bit of the image, but it’s quick and easy.

2. Removing the Signature

  • Content-Aware Fill:
    • Select the Signature: Use the lasso tool to outline the area.
    • Fill: Go to Edit > Fill, select Content-Aware for contents. This analyzes the background and replaces the signature with it.
    • Deselect: Zoom in to see that the signature is almost perfectly removed.
  • Using a Duplicate Logo:
    • Download the Logo: Obtain the logo from the artist’s site or redraw it.
    • Overlay the Logo: Match the size and position of the overlay with the watermark.
    • Select and Mask: Ctrl-click the logo layer, hide the logo selection, and create a mask on the duplicate.
    • Blend: Change the blend mode to Multiply or Screen, and adjust the opacity to blend the watermark out.

By following these techniques, you can effectively remove most watermarks. Although, repeating this process compromises the originality and ethical integrity of the artwork.

Why Watermarks Aren’t Always Effective

Watermarks compromise the quality of artwork, and with ongoing advancements in software, it's not foolproof. To make artwork unusable or limit its use:

  • Upload Low-Resolution Images: Never upload the full-resolution version online.
  • Provide Cropped Previews: Crop specific areas of your artwork for a closer look.
  • Private High-Resolution Access: Limit high-resolution versions to platforms like Patreon, where users pay to support your content.

Conclusion

Watermarks alone are not reliable for protecting artwork. To better safeguard your art:

  • Register it as an official copyright.
  • Limit high-resolution access.
  • Employ online strategies to deter art theft and unauthorized use.

If you found this information helpful, like this article, and subscribe for more art and design tutorials! Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you next time.

Keywords

  • digital artist
  • remove watermark
  • art theft
  • protecting artwork
  • content-aware fill
  • Photoshop
  • watermark vulnerabilities
  • image cropping
  • ethical concerns
  • low-resolution images
  • copyright registration

FAQ

Q: Is it illegal to remove a watermark from someone's artwork? A: Yes, it is considered copyright infringement and is illegal to remove a watermark from someone else’s artwork without permission.

Q: Are watermarks effective in protecting artwork? A: Watermarks provide some protection, but they are not foolproof. Advanced tools like Photoshop can easily remove them.

Q: What are better alternatives to watermarks? A: Use low-resolution images online, provide cropped previews, and limit full-resolution versions to trusted or paid platforms.

Q: Can content-aware fill perfectly remove signatures? A: It works well in many cases, but results can vary depending on the background complexity.

Q: Should I still use watermarks despite their vulnerabilities? A: Using watermarks can still add some level of protection and deter casual theft, but they should not be relied upon as the only method of protection.