Help:Removing watermarks

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Revision as of 17:30, 21 March 2013
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If an image without a watermark can't be obtained from the original author, the watermark can be removed to make the image more reusable. There are a number of ways to remove watermarks using widely-available tools, and new technology is rapidly appearing in this area. Below are a few recommended procedures.
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Watermarked images on Commons are generally discouraged. A proposal about the acceptability of watermarked images is outlined at [[Commons:Watermarks]].
 
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Sometimes, if a version of an image without a watermark cannot be obtained from the author, it can be removed to make the image more reusable. All licenses acceptable on Commons permit this kind of modification. There are a number of ways to remove watermarks using widely-available tools, and new technology is rapidly appearing in this area. Below are a few recommended procedures.
 
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== What not to remove ==
 
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Artists' signatures on paintings, captions and signatures on historic plates etcetera are not considered watermarks on Commons. The information in the text should in most cases be repeated in the image description, for example using {{tl|original caption}}. There might be use for a version without the texts, but it should be uploaded under a separate name (see Commons:Overwriting existing files).
 
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== How to remove watermarks ==
 

 

 
If the file is labelled with the {{tl|JPEG version of PNG}} tag, do not edit the JPEG - instead edit the original PNG file and re-save as JPEG.
 
If the file is labelled with the {{tl|JPEG version of PNG}} tag, do not edit the JPEG - instead edit the original PNG file and re-save as JPEG.
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In some cases, where the watermark is found in the borders of the image and the borders are unimportant, it is possible to remove the watermark by cropping it; although this loses information, it is easy and avoids any fabrication. For JPEGs, a lossless cropping tool such as [http://jpegclub.org/ JPEGCrop] should be used to avoid generation loss.
 
In some cases, where the watermark is found in the borders of the image and the borders are unimportant, it is possible to remove the watermark by cropping it; although this loses information, it is easy and avoids any fabrication. For JPEGs, a lossless cropping tool such as [http://jpegclub.org/ JPEGCrop] should be used to avoid generation loss.
 

 

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== Removing watermarks in Photoshop ==
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=== Removing watermarks in Photoshop ===
 

 

 
In other cases, it is necessary to edit the image and replace the watermark with new image data. When editing JPEGs without a PNG version, it is recommended to use the [http://www.betterjpeg.com/jpeg-plug-in.htm BetterJPEG lossless resave plug-in for Photoshop], or a similar tool. This tool uses special knowledge of the JPEG format to losslessly resave portions of the image that are unaltered (most of the image, usually), avoiding generation loss. This is especially important with low-quality or low-resolution images. To use it, install the plug-in, then follow these steps:
 
In other cases, it is necessary to edit the image and replace the watermark with new image data. When editing JPEGs without a PNG version, it is recommended to use the [http://www.betterjpeg.com/jpeg-plug-in.htm BetterJPEG lossless resave plug-in for Photoshop], or a similar tool. This tool uses special knowledge of the JPEG format to losslessly resave portions of the image that are unaltered (most of the image, usually), avoiding generation loss. This is especially important with low-quality or low-resolution images. To use it, install the plug-in, then follow these steps:
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# If editing a JPEG: When done, use File→Export→ JPEG Lossless Export to export the modified image. If you don't have BetterJPEG, instead re-save the JPEG at high-quality (quality level 10 or higher). If not editing a JPEG, just save.
 
# If editing a JPEG: When done, use File→Export→ JPEG Lossless Export to export the modified image. If you don't have BetterJPEG, instead re-save the JPEG at high-quality (quality level 10 or higher). If not editing a JPEG, just save.
 

 

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== Removing watermarks in GIMP ==
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=== Removing watermarks in GIMP ===
 
There is a complicated way to do this by using the freeware (no free-as-in-freedom software), proof-of-concept-quality [http://jpegclub.org/jpegjoin/ Jpegjoin] tool along with the immortal GIMP. You edit and recompress the parts of the image that need to be changed and assemble them with losslessly processed parts of the original file using Jpegjoin.
 
There is a complicated way to do this by using the freeware (no free-as-in-freedom software), proof-of-concept-quality [http://jpegclub.org/jpegjoin/ Jpegjoin] tool along with the immortal GIMP. You edit and recompress the parts of the image that need to be changed and assemble them with losslessly processed parts of the original file using Jpegjoin.
 

 

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Jpegjoin can be run on Linux in Wine.
 
Jpegjoin can be run on Linux in Wine.
 

 

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== Removing watermarks in Inpaint ==
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=== Removing watermarks in Inpaint ===
 
There is easy solution to remove watermark using [http://www.theinpaint.com/inpaint-how-to-remove-watermark-from-a-picture.html Inpaint]. You just need to mark watermark area and run automatically process, which restore selected area using surrounding data.
 
There is easy solution to remove watermark using [http://www.theinpaint.com/inpaint-how-to-remove-watermark-from-a-picture.html Inpaint]. You just need to mark watermark area and run automatically process, which restore selected area using surrounding data.
 

 

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== Removing invisible digital watermarks ==
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=== Removing invisible digital watermarks ===
 
Invisible digital watermarks, such as those embedded by the Digimarc Photoshop plug-in can be very difficult to remove. Cropping, resizing, adding noise, and even moderate blurring will usually fail to remove the watermark. For black and white photographs or monochrome prints that are saved with an RGB color palette, however, it is often possible to remove the watermark by converting the image to grayscale. If the original image was sepia-toned, you can convert back to RGB and colorize the image as appropriate. Removing invisible digital watermarks should only be done if it is non-destructive to the image.
 
Invisible digital watermarks, such as those embedded by the Digimarc Photoshop plug-in can be very difficult to remove. Cropping, resizing, adding noise, and even moderate blurring will usually fail to remove the watermark. For black and white photographs or monochrome prints that are saved with an RGB color palette, however, it is often possible to remove the watermark by converting the image to grayscale. If the original image was sepia-toned, you can convert back to RGB and colorize the image as appropriate. Removing invisible digital watermarks should only be done if it is non-destructive to the image.
 

 

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