The HelpCenter™ for 10/31 - Have a Gather Question? or Need Help?

Welcome to Today's HelpCenter™ Discussion Post!

The original Gather help series -- assisting members since 2006.

Need a little help, or have a question?
Can't find something? ...or figure out how something works?

Ask other members!

...among several other unique designs!

Sorry about that Purrrrr! ...I'll work a little slower next time!  

Happy Halloween to you too Kat! ...Thanks for stopping by!

Good morning John ...have a great weekend!

'morning! ...is there a reason your icon is published sideways?

"Aren't you glad that you asked?"

Ummm......

I do remember you mentioning this previously and I don't think I fully explored the problem for you. At one time Gather was removing photo content from their servers when you deleted it (they weren't previously). However, I don't know if they are still doing this. If they are, then it isn't working properly. Also, photo content published prior to 2009 (or late 2008) still remains on the servers and has not been scrubbed.

This may possibly be part of the cause.

I'll check it out though and get back to you.

"...at this moment you wish me to be in an internet-less jail cell."

No, not at all...just hoping for an electrical storm.

Wow...what a twisted tale. Or for a cat is that tail?

I'm trying to sort through it, and will get back to as soon as I can.

Good morning Janet. I'm glad to hear about the results of your tests!

Being funny is good...as long as it isn't funny looking.  

DD,

My response to your comment may likely be as long as Sassy's comment above. You raise some very good points, and I'll return as soon as I can to respond.

DD,

You raise several great points, which I'll address in separate comments.

First, adding a signature or watermark to your photos is a great way to deter the casual image thief. This is also quite easy to do and in most cases requires no additional or specialized computer software. Thus, it is easily within reach of any member. However, some watermarks are more effective than others.

You do a great job of placing your watermark in a location that makes it difficult to crop out of the photo. However it is still easier to remove than some other forms of watermark…but stronger watermarks can take away from the experience of viewing an image. Hence, it is a balancing act. I prefer a semi-transparent fade-out band across the image with text. I think it is one of the most effective watermarks, and can serve as a great promotional tool.

more…

"And here's a question for you today Kevin. Why hasn't Gather done something about protecting our photos?"

Back in March, 2008 Gather made the following statement:

"Gather is considering several ideas to better enhance our understandings and methods surrounding content protection.

One idea is to create a Member Advisory Panel to help us further research and isolate industry standards and best practices across the worldwide web."

Of course, member feedback to this idea was extremely positive. After several months with no apparent action in this area, I inquired about the status. I was informed that a Member Advisory Panel would be looked into after an upcoming site update (when Gather Groups were last overhauled). However, no action was taken and no further discussion has been held with Gather on this subject. Thus, I think it's time to make inquiries again.

more...

No site can protect photos from the determined image thief. However, there are MANY steps they can take to make theft more difficult. This includes disabling the 'right-click' ability for images, preventing hot-linking to member image files (preventing others from using Gather as Photobucket is used), or blocking the ability to make screen captures (among many others). Each method has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.

Even if Gather did not implement any of these preventive measures, the community conversation and analysis surrounding them would provide lasting benefits…for members and Gather.

Minimally, it would allow Gather to show at least some level of concern for these issues.

"On the post she published last evening, someone commented that they liked the cat photo in it so well that they might put it on their refrigerator. Well, that just p*sses me off to no end."

I can understand your feelings. While they aren't making money on your photo by taping it to their refrigerator (unless they charge admission to see it), you don't know what else they may do with it.

See my comments to DD below, as they are applicable to protecting your Gather photos content from unauthorized use.

On the positive side, this should be further evidence to you that your photos belong on refrigerators...and calendars...and greeting cards...and post cards, etc.

Sassy,

If you like, I can show you some examples of effective watermarks.

DD,

There ARE a few things you can on Gather to protect your photos today. Watermarks being one. Another is to reduce the size, but add a matte and/or a frame. Both make your photos more difficult to use elsewhere.

You can also place photos in a photo essay/post in such a way that right-clicking on your photos does not work.

I'll try and post some examples for both of you soon. All options can be achieved using even the most rudimentary software like Word or Paint too.

As for disabling the right-click option in a photo essay, here's how it would work:

- A visitor to your post would be able to right-click on your photo and save it to their hard drive.

- HOWEVER, if they tried to use the photo that they saved, it would come up blank and would NOT be your photo...thus protecting the original image.

This would only work in posts and groups however.

Happy Halloween Kirk!

No, there is no longer a cap on point earning. The cap was lifted when Gather changed other aspects of the Gather Points program several months ago.