Disable drag and drop?

[zofiaphoto]

I'm looking for a code to disable users from using drag and drop to swipe images from my sites. Is that the same as disable right click? (I'm on a mac, I don't right click. :o ) Anyone have a good way around this?

Thanks.
Z

[ktinkel]

I'm looking for a code to disable users from using drag and drop to swipe images from my sites. Is that the same as disable right click? (I'm on a mac, I don't right click. :o ) Anyone have a good way around this? I have a feeling that if people can view your images they can also save them.

Do you have watermarks on your images? It could be a copyright notice or other assertion of your rights. When well done, it need not get in the way for viewing.

Do you have a strong copyright statement on your pages? That might discourage people from borrowing images.

Maybe someone will tell us about a more specific way to protect your images, but these are still good practices.

[zofiaphoto]

You're right and I do plan on watermarking the images on my blog but not the images on my website. Just wondering if a code like this could deter, not prevent, clients from swiping images from my blog. I'm talking about the average Joe and Jane, not a web savvy viewer.

[ktinkel]

You're right and I do plan on watermarking the images on my blog but not the images on my website. Just wondering if a code like this could deter, not prevent, clients from swiping images from my blog. I'm talking about the average Joe and Jane, not a web savvy viewer.I hope someone more clever than I will pipe up here. :(

[Andrew B.]

I have a vague memory seeing this done. I think the trick was to have mouse-over code that replaces the photo with another photo that is of no interest. I think the site used a replacement photo that was a watermark but no image.

I can't tell you how to code this, but I wanted to let you know that this might be possible. Also, I imagine that any highly motivated downloader would get around this by spidering the site. And even if you block this, the person can still do a screen capture. But if you want to block most people, the mouse-over approach might work.

[iamback]

I have a vague memory seeing this done. I think the trick was to have mouse-over code that replaces the photo with another photo that is of no interest. I think the site used a replacement photo that was a watermark but no image.A much simpler technique (no JavaScript needed) would be to just overlay the image with a transparent one set to be the same size. All the arguments of spidering, image in browser cache, and screen shots still apply, of course - it's just another discouragement technique but one that can't be thwarted by simply turning off JavaScript.

100% protection against image theft simply is not possible - the image must be downloaded to be viewed - so all you can do is make it a bit harder (overlays) and/or unattractive (watermark).

[Andrew B.]

A much simpler technique (no JavaScript needed) would be to just overlay the image with a transparent one set to be the same size.Yes, this would be much better.

[Howard Allen]

As the other folks have already indicated, you can apply clever techniques to slow some people down, but anything that can be seen onscreen with your eyeballs can be grabbed easily. Mac users need only hit Command-Shift-3 to save your image, so anybody with 3 fingers has you beat in less than a second. So I think that a watermark is your only practical solution other than the honour system.