Should public portfolio images carry visible watermarks?
- Clean web-sized portfolio images with credits and download friction
- Visible watermark on each public image
Choose: Start with rights-cleared, appropriately sized images, accurate credits where required, disabled casual download affordances, and monitoring; use a restrained watermark when the subject, client agreement, licensing model, or misuse history justifies the visual cost.
Tradeoff: A clean image presents the work with less distraction but does not prevent copying. A watermark signals ownership and deters casual reuse, yet can weaken composition, accessibility, sharing, and client perception while still offering no complete protection.
