How to Help Protect Images on Your Zibster Website
Overview
Zibster includes built-in protections that help discourage visitors from easily saving images displayed on your website. However, no website can completely prevent someone from capturing an image once it appears on a computer, phone, or tablet screen.
You can make unauthorized use more difficult by combining Zibster's built-in website protections with visible watermarks, web-sized images, and optional right-click restrictions.
This guide explains what website image protection can and cannot do and provides practical ways to better protect the photography you display on your Zibster website.
Understanding Image Protection and Screenshot Limitations
Once an image appears on a screen, there is always some way for it to be captured. Visitors may be able to use screenshots, browser tools, third-party software, or another camera to capture what appears on their screen.
Because of this, no website protection method can guarantee that an image cannot be copied.
The goal of image protection is to discourage unauthorized saving and make copied images less useful.
Built-In Website Image Protection
Zibster automatically includes protections that help prevent common methods of saving images directly from your website, including dragging images from the page.
These protections provide a useful first layer against casual downloading, but they cannot prevent screenshots or every other method of capturing an image.
You do not need to enable a separate Image Protection setting in the Website Builder for images displayed on standard website pages.
Add a Watermark Before Uploading
A visible watermark can make an image less useful to someone who copies it without permission because your branding or identifying information remains visible on the photograph.
For stronger protection, consider:
- Making the watermark clearly visible
- Placing the watermark over an important area of the photograph
- Using a larger or more prominent watermark when appropriate
- Including your logo, business name, or other identifying information
A subtle watermark may provide a cleaner presentation, while a more prominent watermark generally provides a stronger deterrent.
For images displayed on your Zibster website, add the watermark to the image before uploading it.
Use Web-Sized Images
Avoid uploading your highest-resolution original files to public website pages when that level of resolution is not necessary.
Web-sized images allow you to display your photography clearly online while limiting access to your original high-resolution files. If an image is copied or captured from your website, an appropriately sized web image may also be less useful for large prints or other unauthorized reproduction.
This is especially helpful for:
- Portfolio images
- Blog images
- Homepage images
- Other photography displayed publicly on your website
Keep your original high-resolution files stored separately for printing, archiving, or client delivery.
Disable Right-Click on Your Website (Optional)
You can use custom JavaScript to disable right-click functionality on your Zibster website. This may discourage basic browser actions commonly used to save images.
Disabling right-click is only an additional deterrent. It does not prevent screenshots and cannot guarantee that someone will be unable to access or capture an image using other browser or device tools.
To add right-click prevention code, open the CSS/JS settings in your Zibster Website Builder and add the appropriate JavaScript code.
After saving your changes, test your website on desktop and mobile devices to confirm that navigation, forms, buttons, menus, and other website features continue to work as expected.
Important: Custom code added through the CSS/JS settings can affect your entire Zibster website. Only use code from a trusted source and test your website carefully after making changes.
Image Protection in Zibster Mood Boards
Zibster Mood Boards include a separate Image Protection feature for images displayed through Mood Boards.
Mood Board Image Protection settings do not apply to images displayed on standard pages of your Zibster website.
Image Protection is an account-wide Mood Boards setting that lets you choose the level of protection used for images shared through your Mood Boards.
For complete instructions, see How to Change Image Protection Settings in Zibster Mood Boards.
Best Practices for Protecting Website Images
The strongest practical approach is to combine multiple protection methods rather than relying on a single feature.
Consider using:
- Zibster's built-in website image protections
- Visible watermarks when appropriate
- Web-sized images instead of full-resolution originals
- Optional right-click restrictions
- Mood Boards when you want to share images with clients using the additional Image Protection options available there
These methods can discourage unauthorized copying and reduce the usefulness of images that are captured, but they cannot guarantee that an image displayed online will never be copied.
Image Protection and Copyright
Website protection tools can help discourage unauthorized copying, but they do not replace copyright protection or enforcement.
Keep your original image files and other records that document the creation and ownership of your photography.
If protecting the ownership and permitted use of your images is important to your business, you may also want to review current copyright guidance for photographers and consider the protection methods that are appropriate for your work.
Need Help?
Zibster Support Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm EST
Phone: 844.353.3412
Channels: Phone, Live Chat, Support Ticket
