View Full Version : Playing with a concept : QR code as watermark
ricktas
01-02-2015, 7:46pm
I had an idea earlier that I could use a QR code as my watermark. So playing with the idea, I started to see how transparent I could make a QR code that it would still work, when overlayed on a photo
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Both work using my QR reader on my screen. Would be interested to know if anyone else who has a QR reader on their smartphone can make these work. This QR just goes to my FB photography page. But it could go to my website or anywhere else I wanted it to go.
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MEMBER'S THOUGHTS?
Yep it activates the QR on my iPhone and takes me to your fb page.
Very cool idea, you should patent it, it will be a brilliant success!
And we all saw it first on Austog:cool:
ricktas
01-02-2015, 8:47pm
Yep it activates the QR on my iPhone and takes me to your fb page.
Very cool idea, you should patent it, it will be a brilliant success!
And we all saw it first on Austog:cool:
Thanks. cannot patent something that already exists...hehe :D
My idea was that it would be harder for someone to clone out a faint QR code effectively without leaving it looking like something was cloned out, than it would be to clone out a small word watermark.
Thanks. cannot patent something that already exists...hehe :D
My idea was that it would be harder for someone to clone out a faint QR code effectively without leaving it looking like something was cloned out, than it would be to clone out a small word watermark.
Cloning out aside, any genuine interest person would have an instant link to you your image and a purchase option, bloody brilliant I think.
As far as cloning out goes, it's like a lock, it only stops the honest people, if someone really wants to steal it they will.
Having said that I agree it would be harder to clone out effectively depending on the image and where you place it, I can't see it being that difficult on the sample you posted, esp with content aware selection.
J.davis
01-02-2015, 11:52pm
Both worked for me.
farmmax
02-02-2015, 12:52am
What happens if you set the blending mode of the layer the QR code is on to Multiply? This will make it disappear into the image more. Can your phones still read it?
MissionMan
02-02-2015, 6:27am
Great idea Rick. I really like this. I think this is a brilliant concept.
ricktas
02-02-2015, 6:40am
Thanks for all the feedback everyone.
What happens if you set the blending mode of the layer the QR code is on to Multiply? This will make it disappear into the image more. Can your phones still read it?
Yeah. I am testing various ideas and methods. I want to get it to the point where the QR is readable but also is as less intrusive on the actual image as possible.
You can also generate them in different colours so I will be testing that also.
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Anyone else interested in trying this. You can generate your QR code here : http://www.qrstuff.com/
I think I will also try THIS (http://www.visualead.com/displays/select_special_flow?content=https://www.facebook.com/RickiKeanPhotography&type=URL&generate-url=http://www.qrstuff.com/generate.remote?idqrcode=27363063&aid=C8A2&utm_source=qrstuff-gl&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=general&spc_flow=). Where I can upload an image to form part of the code. I could create a set of them, with say blue sky, cloudy sky, and more as part of the code to help it blend in more, and then just choose one from my set, that fits with the photo I am adding it to.
Great idea Rick I have never been a fan of watermarks but I really like this idea!!!
MissionMan
02-02-2015, 12:08pm
I agree. I think the difference with this is that it becomes a watermark with purpose rather than just an attempt to prevent theft of the image.
iPhone 5 can read 1st not second on notebook at work
MissionMan
02-02-2015, 1:35pm
Both work for me. Might also come down to screen resolution as well.
Both work for me. Might also come down to screen resolution as well.
Which is why I tested with my cruddy work notebook - a bit of worst case
bitsnpieces
02-02-2015, 5:31pm
Second one didn't work for me on my laptop - I'm also liking the concept of this very much.
I think I may use it also as I will be redoing my whole website soon, this is a great idea. Nice one Ricki :)
First one works, second one didn't work on my HTC One S, it had a hard time focussing on it. Personally, I find them pretty distracting, but maybe that's the whole idea? :D
ricktas
03-02-2015, 6:30am
First one works, second one didn't work on my HTC One S, it had a hard time focussing on it. Personally, I find them pretty distracting, but maybe that's the whole idea? :D
I don't want them to be to distracting, but I need them to still be readable by scanners. I will get more time this coming weekend to play with the idea more and see what I can come up with in the way of integration into the images. But looks like from the replies above it will be a balancing act between making them less obtrusive, whilst still able to be scanned.
Same here First one worked straight away Second one could not get it to read. Might be operator error? cheers Brian
Bottom two worked straight away as well.
JimmyCat
04-02-2015, 9:26pm
Was able to read all of them including the 2 coloured ones using an iPhone 5 off an iMac screen.
Very interesting concept that raises all sorts of possibilities.
Rick, do you plan to use them on web based photos or printed.
If web base, would it be easier to have the image linked to the source or provide the link to click on. This would be much less distracting than the QRcode.
I could not imagine myself using a second device to scan a code on a screen when I could simply click on the device I am actually viewing on. (I have assumed, rightly or wrongly, that I need a second device to scan the code)
Printed. I think it is a good idea but likely to be more distracting on a printed photo.
I have never really taken to QRcodes. tried it here with limited success on the first and none on the second. Other than that I have tried it perhaps twice before.
wanderer51
04-02-2015, 10:59pm
First one scanned instantly on my ipad2 using Qrafter. Detected 'No Problems'. took me to your Facebook page.
Second one wouldn't scan at all.
Great idea though.
ricktas
05-02-2015, 6:34am
Rick, do you plan to use them on web based photos or printed.
If web base, would it be easier to have the image linked to the source or provide the link to click on. This would be much less distracting than the QRcode.
I could not imagine myself using a second device to scan a code on a screen when I could simply click on the device I am actually viewing on. (I have assumed, rightly or wrongly, that I need a second device to scan the code)
Printed. I think it is a good idea but likely to be more distracting on a printed photo.
I have never really taken to QRcodes. tried it here with limited success on the first and none on the second. Other than that I have tried it perhaps twice before.
On the web. I could make the entire image clickable using code. Like the Flickr linked photos etc we get here on AP. But the QR code is designed to be scanned, generally by a smartphone, and then take your any weblink. Basically they are a barcode, that unlike supermarket goodies, links you to a webpage rather than a $$ at the checkout.
I am not sure yet if I will progress this and use it on all my images, but it is something I am testing out.
As for prints, you could, if you had a exhibition, have the QR code printed onto the print, but have a different QR code for each image. A viewer at the exhibition could scan the QR code and be taken directly to a webpage for that specific phtoo and order a print of the size they wanted, right there, at the exhibition.
I think there are a lot of people who see theses QR codes at time and who have never tried to use one. That is certainly a restricting factor, but people will try them (as you did), and at least if they understand what they do, they might, if the incentive is there, use them again.
I suppose I will not know how effective the idea can be, unless I try it.
If you buy some automotive parts with QR code it will take you to you tube with information about the part and maybe a video of installation. Very handy. cheers Brian
On the web. I could make the entire image clickable using code. Like the Flickr linked photos etc we get here on AP. But the QR code is designed to be scanned, generally by a smartphone, and then take your any weblink. Basically they are a barcode, that unlike supermarket goodies, links you to a webpage rather than a $$ at the checkout.
Understand, but my main point was that you need the second device to scan the code. I don't really want to be looking at your beautiful photos on my phone.
Would it not be easier to just put the link below the photo like
http://mpb.smugmug.com/Nature/Reptiles/i-H5RpLnj/0/Th/DSC09576-Th.jpg
For information on eastern water dragons see wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_water_dragon
That way you don't spoil your photo and I dont need to find my phone, try and scan, then try to look at the photos/other info on a small screen.
Just my thoughts.
MissionMan
05-02-2015, 10:01am
I may test this out for the Across the Bay for Cancer event I am doing the photography for this weekend. It may be a good way to direct traffic back to their website.
Both worked on my iphone6 but less consistently on the second.
Great idea but in its current form I think it detracts from your image too much.
Understand, but my main point was that you need the second device to scan the code. I don't really want to be looking at your beautiful photos on my phone.
There are many things you can do with QR codes. A link to a photo might be sub-optimal but encoded contact data for example is very handy. I've seen them on a couple of businesscards which is a pretty good way to get VCard info to a smartphone. Embedding a full VCard in a photo might be too much, but you could store the full VCard on a server and have a the QR code point to its URL.
Also, QR codes can be read by tablets, not just phones. When encoding the URL of a website in it, the browser on a tablet may jump right to it. Or perhaps to a website where you can actually buy the photo.
There are many types of data you can encode and the possibilities are endless...
Sorry, late to this topic.
I tested the QR codes with 3 real barcode scanners (all 2D models, Linea Pro 4, Linea Pro 5, and Koamtac KDC 300i).
The first image can only be read by Koamtac, not others.
The second images can't be read by any of my barcode scanners.
However, I believe most people would use iPhone or iPad's camera to read QR code.
CapnBloodbeard
22-02-2015, 2:10am
Isn't it nice to be the first person having thought of something? Good idea!
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