Want to add a subtle embossed watermark to a couple hudred photos

[tinjaw]

My girlfriend's online retail business has a couple hundred photos. Most of them she took herself. They are showing up in other online retail stores. I want to add a subtle watermark to all of the images on her site.

I am looking for a program that will allow me to easily add a subtle transparent embossed watermark. I want to be able to tinker with it until it looks the way I want it to, and then apply it proportionally to a bunch of images. I want to be able to use a GUI to tweak it and then a batch mode to apply it to all images.

A search of these forums doesn't provide any candidates. The only thing that came close was picture-shark, but it only works with a fixed-size watermark.

I will try to find some examples that look like what I want our images to look like and add them to this thread.

Thanks, as always, for your help.

Added:
Just after I posted this, I remembered GiveAwayOfTheDay having something like this and did a search. I found Watermark Factory 2. I looks good, but it priced a bit steep for our needs at $150 (business license). I'm hoping there is something free or low(er) cost.

Added:
As I suspected, Googling for "Watermark Factory" would cause ad-words to pony up some competitors. :-) I found a business license of WinWatermark is only $50. I'm getting closer. ;-)

FOUND!!!
Bytescout Watermarking

[app103]

I am really surprised a Python lover like yourself doesn't have a copy of Paintshop Pro by now.

You could easily create a macro by recording actions in Paintshop Pro (and refine it in python if necessary) to repeat actions on a bunch of files.

I would pick a font I wanted to use, add a new layer, add text to that layer in the color I wanted, adjust the transparency of the layer till it was just how I wanted (on the layers palette) and then play back the macro of actions in batch process. (I have never done this with text so I am unsure if you will have to set the actual text with python, manually)

You could even record/script it to create thumbnails of all the images, at the same time.

Or you could use small tiled text (alternating black & white so it will show no matter what color the image is) on a diagonal angle, flood fill with it on a new layer so it repeats across the whole image. (that would make it much more difficult to remove)

[tinjaw]

We have a winner !!!

I found Bytescout Watermark. It has tonnes more features that the other programs I looked at and it's very reasonably priced. I purchased a copy already and should have the watermarked photos up on the site in a half hour.

[f0dder]

app103: when was Python scripting added to PSP? In the annoying Corel versions, or previously?

[housetier]

I exclusively use imagemagick to manipulate a batch of files.

[lanux128]

a little late to the discussion but for text-only watermark, IrfanView can do the job.

[app103]

app103: when was Python scripting added to PSP? In the annoying Corel versions, or previously?

-f0dder (November 19, 2008, 12:32 AM)

Previously, in V8, while it was still a Jasc product. Corel's first version was v10.

[f0dder]

app103: when was Python scripting added to PSP? In the annoying Corel versions, or previously?

-f0dder (November 19, 2008, 12:32 AM)

Previously, in V8, while it was still a Jasc product. Corel's first version was v10.

-app103 (November 30, 2008, 12:48 AM)

Thanks.

Didn't know it had python scripting, duh - that makes it an even more useful tool than it already is

[nmharleyrider]

Why not use Paint.net.  It's free and as good as Paintshop Pro.

[f0dder]

Why not use Paint.net.  It's free and as good as Paintshop Pro.

-nmharleyrider (December 02, 2008, 02:55 PM)

How is it's scripting support, though?

I agree that paint.net is a very nice application, and fills most people's needs just fine (I've been trying to tell that to people who pirate Photoshop but don't really use anything beyond basic editing features). But on the other hand, P.N still isn't as fully-featured as PSP or PS