Beautify your Blog, DIY… EASY Watermark Image!

Welcome to PART FIVE of our Beautify your Blog, DIY style Series! Make sure you catch up on…

I am SO psyched about this one. This one is SO important. Especially now, in the days where everyone is blogging, fb’ing, tweeting, and pinning like mad.

No matter if you are big or small the expert peeps say you should always PROTECT your photos with a watermark.

The internet has been abuzz lately with what is the rights and wrongs of blogging/pinning ethics, but bottom line… if your pics are watermarked then you are one step ahead of the game.

Alison from House of Hepworths told a very sad tale of how her un-watermarked pics were taken and used without her permission or knowledge.

So have I convinced you yet? Watermarking is IMPORTANT!

I don’t really have much room to “preach” about it though, since I JUST started trying to watermark mine. To me it was just TOO MUCH hassle to add it to EVERY STINKING picture.

I liked how some people’s watermarks looked more like a graphic, and through MUCHO trial and error ended up creating my very own that I can add to my pictures in Picnik in about 2 seconds flat!

Wanna know more??

Okay… Step 1… Open Pixlr… Are you starting to figure out this is where we’re going to spend our time?? I have to say again that I heart Pixlr!! It’s so easy and user friendly!! Free and NO software to download…

Choose Create New Image.

Choose the size you want your signature to be. 200 x 200 might be a good place to start. Make sure you click “Transparent.”

Step 2… Click “A” to add your text. We will need our text as tight and smushed together as possible, so add a text box for every word in your title so it can be adjusted as need be.

{Click in the layers box on the right to go back and forth between text boxes.}

Remember to look at the color number code up at the top. You’ll need to type this in on all your text boxes so your colors will match.

Hint… First, choose Light colors for your text that will show up on a dark background. Then go back and change everything to dark colors that will show up well on a lighter background.

Step 3… Save as png. We want it to be a png since it needs to be transparent.

You should have TWO versions saved now. Your light version and your dark version.

Step 4… Upload both watermarks to Picnik and immediately save again as a png.

Step 5… Now we get to strut our stuff and add our beautiful watermark!!! Open any image in Picnik. Click the arrow on the bottom left corner to expand the Photo Basket.

Step 6… Find your watermark/s in the photo basket.

Click on the watermark you want, and drag it up to your picture.

Step 7… Adjust watermark size, and fade if needed. If your picture happens to have an uneven color background going on, you can choose “Add” under the Advanced Blend Mode to help it be more readable.

Most of the time, the only thing I adjust is the size, so it literally takes me TWO seconds. My only problem is just REMEMBERING to do it!

I usually edit all my blog pics in picnik anyway, so the only extra step in adding the watermark for me is the quick click on the photo basket.

Step 8… SAVE and you’re done!

A BEAUTIFULLY watermarked pic!!!

Hope you’re enjoying these DIY tips!! If you aren’t… then sorry!! Please hang in there with me anyway, okay? :)

I hope you are though, because lots more Beautiful Blog DIY Design coming down the pike!! So stay tuned!

::Sometimes I link to Weekend Bloggy Link up, Tatertots & Jello, House of Hepworths, Delightful Order, Bowl Full of Lemons, Organize & Decorate Everything, Reasons to Skip the Housework, This Chick Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Craft Envy, Somewhat Simple, Shabby Creek Cottage, No Minimalist Here, Skip to my Lou, Fingerprints on the Fridge,CRAFT,Today’s Creative Blog, Thrifty Décor Chick, CSI Project, and Someday Crafts. You should check ‘em out!!:

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Beautify your Blog, DIY… EASY Watermark Image!