Wow, I Published my First Watermarked Photo
By Dr. Ann
@drannhh (15219)
United States
January 31, 2008 12:00am CST
I didn't know whether to put this under photography or cooking, but lately I've been experimenting with different kinds of meals that can be made in microwave steaming bags and since we just bought a great program that copy protects photos by putting a watermark over them, I thought I'd try it out on an article I submitted for publication on Associated Content.
Have any other myLot users made rice or pasta in the new Glad Microwave Steaming Bags yet? Now that I've figured how how to do it without making it go KABLOOM all over the inside of the oven, I wrote several articles on the subject. Here is one:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/573637/a_better_way_to_make_pasta.html
I like that viewers can click on the "Enlarge +" link above the photo to make it bigger. Then you can see my snazzy watermark with the copyright notice.
If you don't use these bags, please tell me your favorite way of making rice or pasta. Do you like rice and vermicelli? Do you brown the rice before steaming it? What kind of oil do you use?
Have any of the photographers here used Watermark Factory's excellent software? How about other programs that allow you to protect your photos?
6 people like this
14 responses
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
19 Aug 08
Hi drannhh! (*hug)
I think its very creative, and wonderful idea about put some watermark in a picture.
teach me how to make it.
I never try rice and vermicelli before..i wonder what its like
ooxoxox'dian, from Bali island.
ooxoxox'dian, from Bali island.1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
19 Aug 08
Rice and vermicelli used to come in a box mixed that read The San Francisco Treat, but now for some reason they don't use that description any more. We moved away from San Francisco, but still like this treat. I put 1/3 instant brown rice, 1/3 white rice, and 1/3 instant noodles in mine, often using 1/2 ten cent bag of ramen noodles broken into small pieces and 1/2 of the seasoning mix, with 2 cups of water for each couple of rice and pasta. Usually I substitute a little chicken or pork broth for part of the water, and I add chopped onion, cabbage, and whatever other vegetable we want and have on hand. Usually I add some sausage or other meat, too. If you don't like to make it in the microwave, it can be made in a covered skillet or even a saucepan.
@thebeing (657)
• Romania
3 Feb 08
you should try lowering the opacity of the watermark. sometimes, the watermark is so visible that it "stands" in front of the actual picture, which is no good.
you don't have to worry about the possibility of removing the watermark, if it ain't so visibile. actually, a watermark is more easily removed if it's very visible.
+ a faded watermark won't distract from the actual photo.
try a more faded watermark, and you'll never go back. haha!
@thebeing (657)
• Romania
5 Feb 08
well, the watermark is nicely done...but try to put it at the bottom of the image...that's how it's used in photography, anyway. and it looks good. especially with a frame. (if you wanna see what i'm talking about, there is a discussion started in photography by me, it's called "new pictures" and i've uploaded a picture there).
take care
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
3 Feb 08
LOL, good advice and true. You are a prophet, too, as the watermarks I normally use are indeed more subtle, but as several myLot friends had told me they didn't know what watermarks ARE, I cranked up the the opacity here to draw attention to it.
Of course, you are right. Although, I am thinking that since I usually only use watermarks over photos of my paintings and drawings, it might be cool to actually incorporate them into the art in some way and then they might want to be visible. The problem there is deciding whether to use the watermark for protection or deocration or some combination of the two. This is a great place to experiment. Again, thanks for an excellent comment.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
31 Jan 08
You've got two topics in the same discussion...lol
One on making rice/pasta...and one on the Watermark Factory software.
Well, I'm totally clueless about the second one...so I'll tell you about the first alone.
We have rice daily (well almost....some days we have chapathis at night and those days I don't cook rice). I don't brown the rice or use oil..just cook it in plain water (no salt either)....the traditional way and drain out the water ...or the little one gets to drink the water (it's supposed to be good especially if it is brown rice).
I usually brown vermicilli before I use it.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Feb 08
It sure does, but the white rice lacks many of the nutrients of brown rice. Now we can finally get brown rice in the instant package, which they say is not as nutritious as the regular brown rice, but cooks in just a few minutes. Rice water made from brown rice is indeed good for the children, and for adults, too.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
31 Jan 08
The Glad Microwave Steaming Bags are not available in my country... and i think it will take like 20 more years before they will be... microwaves are more of a luxury than and ordinary household item here... but we do have rice cookers in different sizes and colors... mine are small and large... white and gray...
Almost all Filipino families own a rice cooker but those who live in provinces prefer to cook rice in the old fashioned way... using banana leaves, bamboo, or clay pots... either way... i love rice... but i never tried cooking it using a microwave... i might try one day...
How do you copyright photos?... i have uploaded a lot here in mylot but i never thought of attaching copyright marks...
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
31 Jan 08
What a great article. I commented on the one on Associated Content and the one on Triond. Way to go putting your Triond article link in your Associated Content article. I tried doing something like that once and they wouldn't accept it. I love the watermark you made on the photo. Someday I will be able to afford to get the program you discussed and do that to my photos too!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Feb 08
Since the watermark program was on sale, I have earned just about enough here on myLot to pay for it! I don't know if Associated Content objects to my having put the Gomestic link in the article or not, but I put my Squidoo link on the side as a "related" link, which I'm sure is OK. I should have read their guidelines again, huh? It doesn't say Triond on it and it is not a referral link, so I thought it would be OK, but if anyone reading this disagrees, please let me know, as I like to stay on good terms with AC and hope not to annoy them. If they have a problem in that I put the Triond link inside the article, they can pull it and I'll resubmit with it as a side link instead.
Since my other AC article is about how they should "Stop Knocking Triond" that would be funny if they did object to this one...
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I doubt it would get pulled now because it's already published. Do you think if I were to write a Redneck "ish" article that I could put my ExtremeRedneck site there as a side link?
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
31 Jan 08
Hi hun, I went trough your article in AC and thought it was very informative. Great job done.
Thanks for sharing.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
1 Feb 08
Well done my friend. I always believe in protecting our work and although watermarks can be removed with lots of patience, they really discourage most people from stealing our work.
I sometimes watermark pictures. I like the faint watermarks that are there but less visible to remove but sometimes I forget to watermark some images.
I have read about Watermark Factory and it seems ok as well as easy to use. GOod choice :)
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Feb 08
Thank you arka. I had looked at quite a few programs and tested the trial versions of several before settling on this one and I am quite satisfied with my choice. For most purposes I like the more subtle ones, too, but in this case I wanted it visible to "show off"--lol.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
8 Feb 08
hey that watermark feature is a great idea to protect your images online! good going.
as for the bags they sound like a useful creation - though I do not use a microwave oven and have not for 10 years or so... It was a difficult adjustment when I first decided to ban the microwave oven - but now it is not a problem at all. Food tastes better, stays hot longer and gives me more satisfaction with hands on cooking.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
8 Feb 08
Your point that the food stays hot longer is valid, but I wonder if that isn't due to the fact that stovetop and oven cooking utensils conduct the heat. Normally the watermark would not be made so conspicuous, but I wanted everyone to see it in this instance. Thanks for your comment!
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
31 Jan 08
I thinking your cooking ideas are great I am not great with cooking in the microwave. I think I am afraid of the thing or something. Not really I think I tend to over cook when I do things in the microwave. I guess it takes practice. What I would love to know more about is your Watemark Factory? I have never heard of it. Is there a paticular site to go to?
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Feb 08
Yes, I put the link in my response to aseretdd in response #1 above. I have a lot of practice using the microwave and have tried quite a few different gadgets to make the MW more versatile, and some are better than others. These bags are terrific! We had an omelette made in one this morning and it came out just great.
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
31 Jan 08
The bag that you mentioned is not available in my city. Since we are Chinese and are regular rice eater, we use rice cooker to cook our rice and it's extremely convenient. I have to bring one when I move, I can't stand "cooking" the rice manually *laughs*.
I haven't used any software to protect my photos so far, but it's indeed a very good idea! I will investigate on it later on! Wow, there is always so much to do *laughs*.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
31 Jan 08
Don't feel bad, as they were not available here either until recently! I have a rice cooker, but do not always like to make a full pot, and then, too, it is another pot to wash!
There are free ways to protect software but I am using what I earn on myLot to pay for the Watermark Factory program, and also it is on sale now!
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
8 Feb 08
LOL. I haven't used the microwave steaming bags, but I have been looking for a way to watermark my photos, particularly since my boyfriend used to have his own photography business and would like to get back into it again. He's taught me a little bit and even though I would like to show some of my friends on the internet am somewhat weary, because after all they are mine and I wouldn't want anyone to take the credit. So thanks for the name of the software. I am going to be sure to check it out. Good luck with your cooking.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
5 Feb 08
Thank you! I have made a few errors, too, which is why I prefer writing for the PTW programs that allow us to edit our own work. Practice may not make perfect, but it helps. I'll bet your participation here on myLot helps a lot with your integration into this language, especially now that you are a "local." Just keep writing :-)
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I didn't think there was software to protect photos - I figured you just added text over them in your favorite editor and then saved the picture new (I would do this in publisher, but could be done in other applications I suppose...) is there a difference? Is there software people can use to strip the watermark?
Also, another question - you are copyrighting a picture of a copyright - the Glad Bags...is that allowed? the reason i ask this is because I like to collage a lot, but you are not allowed to sell a collage if you use the pictures out of a magazine because you don't own those pictures (even though you may have bought the magazine and the paper they are printed on!) at least this is my understanding...i could be really wrong about this!
Anyways, you wrote a good article on AC...
I usually use Uncle Ben's 90 second rice for the microwave (it is so good and fast! much better than any rice i could actually cook!)...pasta i usually boil in water - if it is spaghetti i cook the frozen meatballs in the water with it...i love shortcuts for cooking! I have a glad bag I got as a free sample, I will have to try sometime!
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Feb 08
That is a great question about watermarking a picture of a copyright and honestly, not being a attorney, I don't know! However, I would imagine it would be something like the 1/3 rule in painting where it is OK for your image to be similar to another person's property as long as yours is at least 1/3 different. Now that you mention it, though, I believe I shall ask around in my favorite photographer's forum, as once again, I don't want to unnecessarily annoy anybody.
Cooking the meatballs in with the pasta is a good trick and one I didn't learn until after we bought our first Farberware multicooker, in which one can boil the pasta with less water. If I gauge it right in there, I don't have to drain the pasta, and since it is a multicooker, I can heat a little sauce right on top--pretty fast and easy. But when we just want one or two servings, these little Glad bags shine. Thanks for you interesting input here!
