How to Copy Protect Images Online : Methods & Best Solutions
Image Protection
The first effective form of image protection was developed by ArtistScope in 1998, marking a turning point in how digital media could be safeguarded on the internet. While image encryption provides significant advantages — such as making files unreadable without authorized access — it is not a foolproof solution. Without additional layers of defense, images remain vulnerable to copying methods like screenshots, caching, or source-code extraction. Over the years, multiple techniques have been introduced to strengthen image protection, each with its own pros and cons.
Clear GIF Overlay
One of the earliest approaches was overlaying a clear image (transparent GIF) on top of the main image. This method blocks the “right-click and save” function, meaning that when a user attempts to save the picture, only the transparent overlay is downloaded.
However, this technique has several limitations:
- Saving the entire webpage still collects all images, including the protected one.
- Viewing the page’s source code easily reveals the direct link to the original image.
- Disabling JavaScript can bypass the restriction entirely.
Although ArtistScope pioneered this approach, it was initially only effective on Netscape Navigator, the first browser to support transparent GIF layering. Other browsers adopted layer support later, but even then, the method remained vulnerable to workarounds. Today, it serves more as a historical step in image protection than a robust defense strategy.
Watermarked Images
Another widely used method is watermarking, which comes in two main forms:
- Invisible Watermarks (e.g., Digimarc)
Professional photographers often embed hidden identifiers — such as Digimarc tags — into their photos before distributing them to agencies. These tags function like a digital business card, ensuring ownership can be traced. However, they provide no real protection, as the watermark disappears if the image is resaved in a different file format. - Visible Watermarks (text or logo overlays)
A more direct approach is overlaying text, logos, or transparent graphics onto an image. By merging the watermark into the image, unauthorized users are discouraged from using it commercially or passing it off as their own. Nearly all image editing tools like Photoshop and GIMP can add watermarks.
While visible watermarks are not unbreakable — cropping or editing can sometimes remove them — they remain an effective deterrent, especially for images intended for public display.
Low Quality Images
Another method of discouraging image theft is by intentionally reducing image quality. Photos captured with digital cameras or smartphones are usually very high in resolution — often between 300–600 dpi — while most computer screens only render at around 96 dpi. This means that displaying a full-resolution photo on the web is unnecessary and results in oversized files.
By resizing images with common editors like Photoshop, GIMP, or even online tools, you can lower both the resolution and file dimensions. Saving images at 80–90% quality dramatically reduces file size without noticeably affecting appearance on a screen. But pushing compression further, say down to 60% or lower, will introduce visible pixelation and blur.
This practice works as a deterrent because low-quality images are unattractive to those who want to repurpose them for printing or commercial projects. Essentially, they look fine for casual online viewing but lose their value when stolen and reused in high-quality formats.
Spliced Images
Image splicing is a more technical method of protection. It involves cutting a single image into multiple smaller segments, which are then displayed together using HTML tables or CSS divs to recreate the full picture on a webpage.
If someone attempts a simple right-click save, they will only capture a single slice of the image. Even if they manage to save all the individual segments, reassembling them into one usable file is time-consuming and inconvenient.
However, splicing is far from foolproof. A user can still press the PrintScreen key or use screen capture software to grab the entire image as it appears on the monitor. This makes splicing a partial defense at best — effective against casual theft but not against determined users.
Flash Image Protection
Before Flash technology was discontinued, some websites used Flash-based viewers to display images. This technique prevented users from downloading or right-clicking images, and in some cases even disabled mouse buttons altogether.
On paper, Flash offered a higher level of protection compared to HTML-based tricks. But in practice, it had two major weaknesses:
- Screenshots still worked — regardless of Flash’s controls, users could take a screenshot and capture the entire image.
- Flash became obsolete — browser makers officially banned Flash years ago due to security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
As a result, Flash image protection is now considered a defunct method. It has historical value in the evolution of image protection but is no longer relevant for modern web security strategies.
Disabling Right Click
One of the most common tricks used on websites is disabling the right mouse click through JavaScript. At first glance, this may appear to prevent image theft because users can no longer access the “Save As” option. However, in reality, it is little more than a minor inconvenience.
Anyone determined to copy an image can easily bypass this by:
- Using the browser toolbar’s “Save Page As” option to download all files, including images.
- Opening the page source code to locate and save the direct image URL.
- Pressing the PrintScreen key or using screen capture software to copy the image exactly as it appears.
Because it only deters casual users and has no effect on experienced ones, disabling right-click is considered superficial protection at best.
Image Applet Protection
While an image is displayed in a Java applet it can be safe from mouse saves and site grabbers.
ArtistScope’s first commercial solution for image protection used Java applets. Not only were the images encrypted to prevent re-use, but they were also domain locked which meant that even if someone copied the applet code as well - the image would only display on the site that it was encrypted for.
Other image protection applets did not use encryption or domain lock, leaving the image file available for direct download.
However, today Java is no longer supported in modern browsers. Mobile phones, which now dominate internet usage, also lack Java support. As a result, while applets were once innovative, they are now obsolete in practice, replaced by more modern approaches like encryption tied to specialized browsers.
Prevent Image Caching
When a browser loads a webpage, it automatically stores its components — including images — into a temporary folder known as cache. This caching system is designed to make websites load faster on repeat visits, but it also opens a vulnerability:
- Image grabbing tools can scan cache folders to retrieve original, high-quality images without any overlays or restrictions.
The only reliable way to stop this is by using encrypted images. When images are encrypted and domain-locked, they cannot be stored in a usable format within cache. Some solutions even use specialized browsers that avoid caching altogether, making it impossible for standard grab tools to extract files.
Thus, preventing caching is a critical part of real image protection, but it requires encryption rather than surface-level tricks.
Protect Images With Encryption
Encryption remains the most secure solution for protecting images online. An encrypted image cannot be displayed without being properly decrypted first. Until that decryption happens, the file is meaningless data — even to the website’s own webmaster.
The most advanced form of this approach uses domain locking, which ensures that the encrypted image can only be viewed on its licensed website. Even if someone manages to copy the file, it will be useless outside the intended environment.
For example, ArtistScope’s CopySafe Web Protection offers domain-locked encryption, making it impossible to reuse images elsewhere. With this method, even screen capture attempts can be blocked, providing a far stronger layer of defense compared to older methods like overlays or right-click disabling
Protect Images From PrintScreen
One of the biggest challenges in image protection is preventing theft via the PrintScreen button or screen capture software. Unlike right-click saves or cache extractions, screenshots capture exactly what is displayed on the user’s screen, making almost every basic protection technique ineffective.
Many CMS plugins (Wordpress, etc) falsely claim to block PrintScreen using JavaScript, but this is a myth. JavaScript runs within the browser environment and does not have access to the user’s operating system or clipboard. As such, it cannot intercept or disable system-level functions like screenshots.
The only reliable way to block PrintScreen is to use a specially designed secure web browser that can operate at system level. For example, ArtisBrowser was developed specifically to prevent screen captures, PrintScreen, and even third-party recording software. When used together with encrypted images, it ensures that content cannot be copied by any conventional means.
In short, standard browsers cannot stop screenshots — a dedicated protection browser is the only effective solution.
FAQ
Q1. What is the best way to protect images online from copying?
The most secure way is using encrypted images with domain lock and a secure browser like ArtisBrowser, which blocks PrintScreen and capture tools.
Q2. Do watermarks really protect images from theft?
Watermarks deter casual theft, but determined users can crop or edit them out. They are a good deterrent but not a complete protection method
Q3. Can disabling right-click stop people from saving images?
No. Disabling right-click only blocks one method. Users can still save via page source, cache, or screenshots.
Q4. How does image encryption work for copy protection?
Encrypted images cannot be displayed without decryption. With domain lock, they only work on licensed websites, making stolen copies useless.
Q5. Can JavaScript plugins prevent screenshots?
No. JavaScript cannot block system-level actions like PrintScreen. Only secure browsers such as ArtisBrowser can prevent screen captures.
Best Solutions For Image Protection
All of the solutions listed below prevent all copy and prevent all of the exploits discussed here and more:
CopySafe Web Protection is the only software that provides protection from PrintScreen and screen capture. Images encrypted by CopySafe Web are domain locked and can only be displayed on the licensed web site. Plugins are available for WordPress, Moodle, Drupal and Joomla to add encrypted images to web pages and posts. However Copysafe Web requires that a Windows computer be used. While that can be ideal for corporate networks and select clients, if you want users on all OS and devices to view these protected images, then one should instead use an ASPS solution.
The ArtistScope Site Protection System (ASPS) is the most secure copy protection solution for web content and it is viewable on all computers and devices including Windows, Mac iOS and Android phones. However to install ASPS, one needs to use a dedicated server or VPS for the rights to install at system level.
Otherwise, for web sites using shared hosting, the following solutions will enable the use of ASPS indirectly:
- Copy Protected File Hosting is a copy protected file hosting service. Embed media on existing pages or use as standalone pages
- SafeGuard DRM is a WordPress plugin that will add access rights to any WordPress web page or post that can include embedded PDF or video.
- SafeGuard Media is a plugin for WordPress and Moodle that will add copy protected images, PDF and video to any WordPress page or post.
- SafeGuard Webmail will copy protect email and team messaging on which images, PDF and video can be displayed. No website required.
