Playing with a concept : QR code as watermark

[ricktas]

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

water.jpg

water2.jpg

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?

[davsv1]

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

[ricktas]

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

Thanks. cannot patent something that already exists...hehe

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.

[davsv1]

Thanks. cannot patent something that already exists...hehe

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]

Both worked for me.

[farmmax]

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]

Great idea Rick. I really like this. I think this is a brilliant concept.

[ricktas]

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.

qrcode.27362840.png

qrcode.27362843.png

Anyone else interested in trying this. You can generate your QR code here : http://www.qrstuff.com/

I think I will also try THIS. 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.

[JJM]

Great idea Rick I have never been a fan of watermarks but I really like this idea!!!

[MissionMan]

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.

[Kym]

iPhone 5 can read 1st not second on notebook at work

[MissionMan]

Both work for me. Might also come down to screen resolution as well.

[Kym]

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]

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

[jev]

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?

[ricktas]

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?

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.

[bricat]

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]

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.

[mpb]

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]

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.