Getting picture url when site locked down

sos

Joined: 2009-12-02
Posts: 6
Posted: Wed, 2009-12-02 02:30

This might be a little tricky to describe. My site was designed for me some time ago using Gallery v1. I asked that the right click option be disabled to help dissuade people from copying pictures from my site. But now I have a problem. If I want to post a picture to a photography forum for critique or simply display, I need to know the URL for the image itself; not the page it displays on. But I can't right click to get that info.

Is there a way that I, as administrator, can get that info without opening up my site to abuse? If not, is there a way I can easily enable right click, get the url then disable right click again?

Thanks!

 
floridave
floridave's picture

Joined: 2003-12-22
Posts: 27300
Posted: Wed, 2009-12-02 03:05

Use firefox browser and the http://chrispederick.com/work/web-developer/ plugin to get the images.

Dave
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nivekiam
nivekiam's picture

Joined: 2002-12-10
Posts: 16504
Posted: Wed, 2009-12-02 05:33

Or just simply use Firefox, go to Tools > Options > Content and click the Advanced button for the Enable Javascript option. Then uncheck the option to "Disable or replace context menus".

This is why I scream over and over that right-click disabling does absolutely positively NOTHING for protection. If I can see it, I can get it, period. No ifs ands or buts. End of story.

The ONLY thing this does is piss of your visitors by totally and utterly, horribly BREAKING their browsing experience.

THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT YOUR IMAGES IS TO WATERMARK THEM
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sos

Joined: 2009-12-02
Posts: 6
Posted: Thu, 2009-12-03 04:04

Thank you for the tip nivekiam. It does indeed work. But I must respectfully disagree with your opinion that it does absolutely positively nothing for protection. Nothing can protect your pictures absolutely; not even a watermark. A skilled photoshopper can just remove the watermark, no matter how complex. If somebody is willing to go to enough effort they can get the image. It might not look great, but some people don't realize that and some don't care.

The problem with watermarking pictures is it ruins the presentation of the image. My approach is use low res images, put my copyright on it (small, in a corner and usually with reduced opacity, just so people know it is copyrighted) and disable right click. I believe there aren't many people who know how to get the image, remove the copyright, enlarge the image and sharpen it, and of those who do know how to do this, most will have enough morals and class not to steal the picture. The few others that can and are willing to go to that extent, then I choose to allow myself to be flattered that they would go to that much effort for my picture (even though I don't want them to!), rather than ruining my image's presentation with a large ugly watermark.

Either way is a compromise. I guess we just have different philosophies. I would be interested to better understand why you feel not being able to right click totally and utterly, horribly breaks your browsing experience. Perhaps I have overlooked something.

Thanks!

 
nivekiam
nivekiam's picture

Joined: 2002-12-10
Posts: 16504
Posted: Thu, 2009-12-03 05:26
Quote:
I would be interested to better understand why you feel not being able to right click totally and utterly, horribly breaks your browsing experience. Perhaps I have overlooked something.

Because you are hijacking functionality in my browser, messing around with my browsing experience and my browsing habits. Don't open new windows, don't resize my browser, don't disable functionality in my browser, or I simply just don't visit your site. :) If you're selling stuff on your site, I inspect the hell out of your site (view source, see what sort of stuff is being loaded, etc), inspect your domain, whois info (if you're a business don't you dare hide this, otherwise you loose my business), etc before buying from you if you're not a well known company like Amazon, B&H Photo, etc. That's just one example. But if you're selling stuff and I can't right-click or have to jump through hoops to do so, I just move onto the next person selling the same thing or something similar.

I'm just one opinionated person, do what you want, but I strongly believe that you shouldn't mess around with people's browsers and their browsing habits.
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sos

Joined: 2009-12-02
Posts: 6
Posted: Fri, 2009-12-04 00:11

Nivekiam, every one is entitled to their opinion and I wouldn't deny any one that. I just feel that it is my photography gallery and I should be able to protect my assets as I see fit. If it was a physical gallery (in a building), surely you would not expect the right to come in to the back room through a locked door, rummage around in my filing cabinets, check my invoices to see who I do business with or to take pictures off my wall and walk out with them. And if I put a lock on my door that you feel a knowledgeable thief could defeat, perhaps that is so, but I know it is physically impossible to keep a seriously intent person out. I would just be trying to keep the opportunistic or less sophisticated thief out, as well as the curious.

I use Paypal, which should give you the sense of security needed to make purchases under $100.

If you were to be offended by the 'lock on the door', that would be unfortunate, but I would still continue to lock my door.

I suspect we will simply have a different take on this one, but I do appreciate you sharing your perspective with me.