Google demonstrates that the "watermark" of the image can be automatically and cleanly erased, "one more time is needed to make it more effective"

In the site that sells pictures (stock photo site), we put a "clear watermark" that you can see clearly so that samples of photos you are selling will not be diverted. However, we show that "watermark" as currently used is easily removable using computer algorithms, and we are talking about the need to add another task.

Research Blog: Making Visible Watermarks More Effective
https://research.googleblog.com/2017/08/making-visible-watermarks-more-effective.html


This is because GoogleCVPR 2017(Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition) "as" On The Effectiveness Of Visible Watermarks ". Thesis is open access, and anyone can read the full text.

On the Effectiveness of Visible Watermarks
(PDF file)http://openaccess.thecvf.com/content_cvpr_2017/papers/Dekel_On_the_Effectiveness_CVPR_2017_paper.pdf

A movie explaining the content with concrete examples is published on YouTube, and when you look at it, you can tell one thing about what Google is saying.

On the Effectiveness of Visible Watermarks - YouTube


There are times when you see the "watermark" in the image around here on the net.


When thinking about erasing this watermark by the power of people, it is quite difficult.



The original image looks like this ...


After working it is kore. Even so, a watermark of "x" remains.


It takes 9 minutes to reach here so far as it is original video.

How To Remove Watermark Over Image. - YouTube


However, if you use computer algorithms, the watermark will disappear quite nicely. The following image is the result of simply trying to erase the watermark by "subtraction", and the shape of the watermark remains almost unchanged.


However,"Alfamat"You can use" Automatic removal of watermark ".



First of all, in order to duplicate the watermark to be removed, we read a large amount of watermarked image and investigate the change.


It is like this when 61 images are loaded. The image "Probably the watermark being used is like this" is completed on the right side.


When using 422 images with Adobe Stock ......


The sample is a picture of this pyramid. Adobe Stock watermark is included so that it overlaps three pyramids in the center.


And the watermark from which it was extracted.


When processing was done, the watermark of the image wonderfully disappeared.


The same also applies to stock photo site · 123RF. It is a watermark which took 9 minutes only by manually erasing icons and letters ......


As it is, it has disappeared as "x" mark.


This is because the watermark used is consistent. Therefore, what Google suggests is to give "wobbles" to the watermark. Two watermarks are lined at the bottom right of the image, but the left is the original, the right is the "fluctuation" added. Because it is distortion in 1 pixel unit, I do not know the difference by visual inspection ... ...


If you try to erase the watermark as before, the difference will appear. Although the watermark on the bottom left has been splendidly watermarked, the lower right has unnatural distortion.


With this one work, you will be able to better protect your stock photos.