It’s a good idea to add copyright information to your images. This allows anyone viewing your image on the web or preparing the file for print at a printing lab to determine who owns the copyright of the image and what they can do with it. The copyright metadata can also supply information on how to contact you if they need permission to use your photo. As the end of the year draws near, it’s a good idea to review, update and create a new preset that adds your copyright information to your photos’ metadata automatically. Most cameras have this feature built in – you may need to look through your camera’s manual to find where to add the information – but Lightroom makes this task really easy by creating a preset.
Where to Add the Information
Open the Import dialog by clicking File then select Import Photos and Video. The import dialog box appears. On the right side is the Apply During Import panel. Click the drop down next to Metadata, and choose New – or Edit if you have an existing preset.
Type a name for the preset at the top, scroll down to the IPTC Copyright section and fill it out. To create the © symbol on a Mac, press Option+G. On a PC use the numeric keypad. Press and hold the Alt key then type 0169. You can always just copy and paste the symbol from this article. The Copyright Info URL field is used to provide a link to somewhere on your website where you have posted specific rights and usage terms for your photos. In the IPTC Creator section, add your name in the Creator field, and add as much contact information as you wish. Make sure that it is sufficient that someone can successfully contact you if they come across your photo.
When you are done, click Create. This preset will now show in the Apply During Import dialog as the default, and this information will be applied automatically as you import new photos. Click Cancel to exit out of the Import dialog. The next time you open the Import Dialog box, ensure your new copyright preset is selected. After you apply it for the first time, it is saved as your default.
Finding Where the Information is Stored
The copyright information will not show up on your photos; it will tag along with your photos as data known as metadata. To see this data, in the Library module, select one photo, and in the Metadata panel on the right, change the view to IPTC. Creator information will show towards the top, and Copyright information towards the bottom.
Are My Images Copyrighted?
In the United States, the moment you clicked the shutter, your images were copyrighted. We just added information making it easier for people to contact you. This doesn’t mean your images are protected. In order to protect your images, you need to register them. “Have you registered your photos” – guides you through the 3 steps needed to registering your photos with the Library of Congress.
Vanelli is a photographer, educator and author based in Florida. Currently he shoots for Inside Lacrosse Magazine, teaches workshops, and writes for Photofocus. Click here for a list of Vanelli’s articles.
https://www.facebook.com/mrvanelli
https://twitter.com/vanelli
This Post Sponsored by:
Perfectly Clear for Photoshop or Lightroom is all about saving you time so you can focus on doing what you love best. Get a free trial of the award winning plug-in here.
Polarr photo editor: All the pro tools, in one place. Polarr brings the most advanced toolset right to your mobile. With curves, dehaze, denoise, custom filters, and more, Polarr makes it easy to edit online or offline. Get it free at https://www.polarr.co/
The HDR Learning Center. Check out new ways to use High Dynamic Range photography to make compelling images. Free tutorials and posts to get results. Produced in partnership with HDRsoft
Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. For more than 30 years, Arizona Highway Photo Workshops has been committed to helping photographers find inspiring destinations, quality education and spectacular images. Get more information (and enter our contest) at http://www.ahpw.org/FindIt/
lynda.com Learn photography anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace—from bite-sized tutorials to comprehensive courses. Try lynda.com free for 10 days by visiting lynda.com/Photofocus
Filed under: Adobe, Photography, Software, Technique & Tutorials Tagged: Copyright, Lightroom, Lightroom LR, Lightroom Preset, Vanelli