It's an on going job promoting and protecting your art.

Kim Niles aka KiniArt Studios Link has some easy steps to creating

watermarks one of the few ways to protect your art on

the internet.

First, Open your image in PhotoShop.

From the top menu, select LAYER - New - Layer
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut1.jpg )

When the "New Layer" window pops up, select "Group with Previous Layer", and click "Okay".
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut2.jpg )

Now select the text button:
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut3.jpg )
You can change your font style and size detail at the top menu.

Now click on your image and type your copyright notice.

[To get the copyright symbol to appear, I hold down my left "alt" key and

with my other hand type "0169" and the symbol shows up. This doesn't work with

all fonts so try it with some of the more common fonts].

Now, go back up to the Layers menu at the top, and select LAYER - Layer style -

Blending Options.
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut4.jpg )
An options window will pop up with checkboxes running down the left side and multiple

options on the other side. (Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut5.jpg)

First, I change the blend mode opacity to between 65% and 82% depending on brightness

of the artwork I'm adding it to. Next change the Fill Opacity to be between 40% and 60%.

Now move over to the checkboxes... IF you JUST check a checkbox, the element is applied to your text...

However, if you click/select the name of the element in addition to it's checkbox,

(i.e. click on the words "Outer Glow", you will see all those other options like opacity,

size, etc. available for the element, giving you more control. I use the drop shadow over

lighter colors. I use the outer glow very often, but prefer to change the color from the default yellow.

To change the color of the glow, click the yellow square,

(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut6.jpg ),

and when the Color Picker window opens, click on the color you
want.
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut7.jpg )

If you're not exactly pleased with the position of the text, you can drag it around

on the art image with your Move tool
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut7b.jpg )

Finally, when you're happy with the color, opacity and position, go back up to the top menu

and select LAYER - Merge Visible.
(Screenshot: http://kiniart.com/i/tut/ps_tut8.jpg )

And now you can SAVE your image.

For thoses with out Photo shop

This is a simple method for windows users to copyright your work without using

expensive photo editing software to watermark your work.

You need to first open up MS-Paint, this photo editing program is installed on most

Windows computers and is a cheap alternative to the more expensive and complicated photoshop.

To open up MS-paint find the start button located in the bottom left hand corner of your

computer screen, then go to program --> Accessories --> Paint.

Once you have the program open you need to hit “file” which is located in the upper

right hand corner and then hit the “open” option from the drop down. This will open up a

window which will allow you to browse your files and select the picture you wish

to add your copy right text to.

Once you have your picture open you can then select the text tool from the tool bar.

It will be designated by a large boldface “A”. Once you have that selected the text tool two

boxes will show up on the tool bar which will allow you to select if the text you are tying

has a background or not. Make sure to select the one that does not have a background.

This can be hard to determine by just looking at it and it may take a little bit of trial and error

to figure out which one works for you.

Once you have the correct one selected you can then place your text where you want

it on the picture. I recommend somewhere that doesn't detract from the picture itself

but also cant be cropped out easily.

Also you may want to add the copyright symbol © to your picture as well.

You can find this on most windows based computers

under programs --> Accessories --> System tools --> Character map.