eBay Instructions for Using Watermarks in Pictures

Well, they have guidelines and even instructions on how to do it (see below) BUT....none of the instructions apply to their current 3 ways of uploading pictures...at least when I look at it.

I went into a listing I have scheduled for posting later today and deleted one of the 12 pics so I could try out their watermarking approach. When I tried to upload a new 12th pic there was no option for assigning a watermark to the new pic.

Thanks, eBay for offering all the picture opportunities but not including the watermarking option OR changing you "help" feature that talks about watermarking. 

Guess I will continue to use a "paint" type program to lay BIG RED LETTERS on top of some of my pics.

Note: I use an eBay template I have been using for years. I'll look inside it and see if there are changing options.

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Adding a watermark to your photos
You can use our watermark creation service to add a camera icon, your eBay user ID, or both, as a watermark on your photo. Note: Watermarks are the only text that can be on your photo.
To add a watermark to your photos:
1.   Go to the Add photos section of the listing form.
2.   Click the Add or remove options link, and then select one or both watermark options:
o   Enable watermarking with my eBay user ID
o   Enable watermarking with the eBay camera icon
3.   Click the Save button.
4.   Continue filling out the form.
When you upload your photo, we'll apply the watermark you selected. If your user ID is more than 24 characters, the ID watermark is automatically shortened to 24 characters to ensure it will fit the photo.
Note: The watermark you selected applies only to photos you've just uploaded. Changing your selection won't add or remove watermarks from previously uploaded photos. Watermarks aren't available for photos uploaded using our quick listing tool.
If you'd like to create your own watermark on your photos, follow these guidelines:
•   We only allow watermarks for ownership and attribution
•   Watermarks shouldn't distract from the image
•   Watermarks can't serve a marketing purpose, such as specific details about your item or customer service
•   Watermarks should be no bigger than 5% of the total image area
•   Watermarks should have an opacity of no more than 50%
•   Links aren't allowed in watermarks

Here's an example...not a watermark.

Guess I will continue to use a "paint" type program to lay BIG RED LETTERS on top of some of my pics.

That's the way to go anyway. If you use the eBay tool to add a watermark, then they might be able to separate the watermark when they add your photo to their library/catalog. Plus by doing it yourself, you can properly position the text so it doesn't cover anything important in the photo.

That's the way to go away. If you use the eBay tool to add a watermark, then they might be able to separate the watermark when they add your photo to their library/catalog. Plus by doing it yourself, you can properly position the text so it doesn't cover anything important in the photo.

you can do it that way and probably fly under the radar and not get caught but if someone reports your listing you get a strike and wont appear in searches for like 2 months so if you wanna take that risk know thats a possibility. really if someone wants to use your pics they will.

one other thing. i get where you guys are comming from, i get frustrated when people are lazy and use my time and effort and steal my pics. that said if you sell one off items its not like you have a recognizeable brand anyways so who really cares ifsomeone uses it. the reason i dont like it is i sell the same items over and over and over for years so when my customers recognize my pics as me. i know sometimes in we buy alot of something and are selling a consistant product like movieman with his filters or whatever that was he picked up in bulk but if your selling a toaster andd someoen steals your pics who really cares once that toaster sells the pics are worthless to you anyway though i do get the principal. i wouldn't waste time policing people using pics for one off things though. another thing do you guys find that the report the listing thing works, i never see any action unless i actually call and make the phone rep file a report. ive even had reps tell me the report thing does work if enough people report but they have so many listings to police dont expect results