Using digital watermarks
A digital watermark is a permanent proof of authenticity for an image. While a computer can detect it, it is invisible to the viewer. A watermark contains information about the creator, the copyright, and the image. When a viewer chooses to see this information, the program opens a dialog box that contains a link to the Digimarc web page.
Reading a digital watermark
Whenever Corel PaintShop Pro opens an image, it automatically checks for a digital watermark. If one is detected, the program displays a copyright symbol in front of the filename on the title bar, and the Watermark Information dialog box appears. If Corel PaintShop Pro does not detect a watermark, it displays a message stating that no watermark was found. You can also view the Digimarc database page to get information about the creator.
Embedding a digital watermark
A digital watermark can only be embedded on a layer once since this prevents its quality from being degraded by further changes to the layer. If you try to embed a watermark in a layered image, Corel PaintShop Pro displays a message recommending that you flatten the image before proceeding.
When you embed a watermark, you can select the following options:
• creator ID
• image copyright dates
• image attributes
• restrictions on use
• watermark durability
You only need to configure the creator ID the first time you embed a watermark. You can change the copyright date, image attributes, and durability each time you embed a watermark.
Setting the watermark durability
The watermark durability indicates how visible watermarks are on the image. For images to be printed, use stronger watermarks. For images to be displayed on a monitor, use weaker watermarks because they are not as visible. While stronger watermarks are easier to detect, and harder to remove, they are also more visible in the image. You can make two copies of the image and apply a stronger watermark to the copy you are printing and a weaker one to the copy you are displaying electronically.
Personalizing the Creator ID
Customizing the watermark with your own identification number requires the following two steps:
• Register with Digimarc to obtain your own ID number.
• Type the information in the Personalize Creator ID dialog box.
To read a digital watermark
Edit workspace
• Choose Image Watermarking Read Watermark.
You can view the Digimarc database page to get information about the watermark creator by clicking Web Lookup in the Watermark Information dialog box.
To embed a watermark
Edit workspace
1 Choose Image Watermarking Embed Watermark.
The Embed Watermark dialog box appears.
2 In the Image Attributes group box, mark any of the following check boxes to determine the restrictions shown when the program displays the watermark information:
• Restricted use
• Do not copy
• Adult content
3 In the Copyright Information group box, type either one or two years in the Copyright year(s) boxes.
Digimarc accepts years from 1922 to the present.
4 Click OK.
A layer can contain only one watermark. You cannot embed a new watermark in a layer that already contains one.
To set the watermark durability
Edit workspace
1 Choose Image Watermarking Embed Watermark.
The Embed Watermark dialog box appears.
2 From the Target Output drop-list, choose the medium in which the image is to be displayed:
• Monitor
• Print
If you select Print for an image with a resolution under 300 dpi, Corel PaintShop Pro displays a message recommending that you increase the image resolution before embedding the watermark.
3 To set the watermark strength, type a number from 1 to 16, or use the default values in the Watermark durability control.
The default for the Monitor option is 8 and for the Print option is 12.
4 To verify that the watermark information is embedded correctly, mark the Verify check mark.
The program checks that the watermark has been applied and displays its attributes and durability.
To personalize the Creator ID
Edit workspace
1 Choose Image Watermarking Embed Watermark.
The Embed Watermark dialog box appears.
2 Click Personalize.
The Personalize Creator ID dialog box appears.
3 To register with Digimarc, click Register.
Your Web browser opens and navigates to the Digimarc Web page. Follow the on-screen instructions to receive a Creator ID number, a PIN number, and a password. You should write them down for later use. Close the browser to return to the Personalize Creator ID dialog box.
4 Type the PIN and Creator ID numbers in the appropriate boxes.
5 Click OK.
The Embed Watermark dialog box appears.
6 Click OK.
If the Verify check box is marked, the Embed Watermark: Verify dialog box appears. It lets you know that the watermark has been embedded and displays the creator, copyright, image attribute, and durability information from the Embed Watermark dialog box.
If your computer does not have Web access, phone Digimarc using the toll-free number to register and receive your Creator ID number, a PIN number, and a password.