OVER 2 YOU 203 (26/10/04)

ELECTRONIC WATERMARK

I understand that it is possible to superimpose a permanent "watermark" into digital image files in such a way that even if the image is re-sized or cropped the mark is retained and cannot be readily removed. My son, who is just beginning to sell a few of his photographs to publications, would like to embed a discrete copyright/name/date mark onto his portfolio images. Can anyone suggest a method or suitable program for doing this?

Derek Nash, via email

Your correspondent will find an easy to follow tutorial, showing how to watermark digital photographs using PaintShop Pro’s ‘layering’ feature at:

www.grafx-design.com/24psp.html

Dave Hillman, via email

Try Photomark from www.photomark.biz/. This program has the ability to apply watermarks to picture files in batches. To stop users craftily removing watermarks by cropping or re-touching you can add multiple watermarks, or superimpose translucent wallpaper. I used this trick a few years ago when I was a school’s photographer. During the late 90’s I noticed a steady reduction in orders, which I discovered was due to parents scanning my proofs onto their PCs and removing the watermark using photo-editing software. As soon as I added a second very light watermark across the child’s face my orders went back up again.

J. Richardson, via email

A while ago, whilst looking for something similar to protect my own catalogue of images I came across a program called DropWatermark. The registered version can be used to batch watermark multiple images in a folder, and you can also add things like time, date and file references. Registering the program costs $16.50 but you can download and test a free trial version, which only watermarks single images. The developers web site can be found at: www.lajdesignsw.com/DWM.html

Denise Taylor, via email

With a bit of experimenting you can create watermarks in many picture editing programs like Photoshop but for simplicity I use a German shareware utility called K-Lab Watermark.  This can be downloaded from: www.bildschutz.de/eng. There is an English language version of the software on the site and registration will set you back Euro 16.99.

Louise Goldman, via email

STOCK CONTROL

Does anyone know of a simple parts stock control program to replace our ageing Spiral Solutions Stockman software based on a Borland database program that only works with Win 9x after a lot of fiddling? We are moving to an XP computer and are looking for something simple to just tell us what we have, what it cost and what to reorder.

Peter Todd, Basingstoke

Mr Todd will find a very good assortment of shareware and freeware stock control programs on the Tucows website, Atrex and DoInventory Plus would seem to do everything that your correspondent is looking for. The full list of programs can be found at: www.tucows.com/saletrac95_default.html

Terry Green, Oxford

Most stock control programs can do what Peter Todd is looking for but they tend to do a lot of other things as well, which makes them appear complicated and difficult to master. My advice is to try one or two of the simpler applications on the market, many of which are available in trial or demo versions. I would start with Small Business Inventory Control from www.rytechsoftware.com/, naturally there’s a learning curve but it should be well worth the effort and the knowledge and experience he will gain should come in useful as and when his business expands, and he finds uses for the additional features.

Mark Matthews. Via email

I have just the solution, Searchlight software have been developing a web based stock management system. The Swet.shop productivity suite allows you to access your business information from anywhere with an Internet connection, centralising a company’s important information for all users to reach from work or home. More details can be obtained from: info@searchlightsoftware.com

Nick Fallon, via email

The SimplyTheBestShareware website at: http://simplythebest.net/shareware/ business/inventory_control.html lists several very well specified inventory control programs ranging in price from $43 to $350 and I feel sure that one or two of them would be suitable for his purposes. Many of these programs are shareware and can be assessed on a try-before-you-buy basis, with some key functions disabled, and if you find one that suits simply pay the licence fee and an unlock code, that enables all of the features will be sent to you by email, usually in just a matter of minutes.

Simon Philips, Hull

WIND ENERGY

Following on from the recent enquiry in Over 2 You about water wheels, I have often thought it would be a good idea to have my own, small, wind turbine attached to the roof of my house in order to create electricity for powering my home. Does anyone know if these exist, and if so where I could buy one? Also, would I need to obtain planning permission, or consult the Environment Agency before proceeding with this project?

Peter Cook, via email

Wind turbines are available from several places. The Centre for Alternative Technology (www.cat.org.uk and click on Green Shop) is a good place to start. By the way, South Oxfordshire District Council treat wind turbines as TV aerials as far as planning permission goes. If no one complains then all is well. As far as I am aware other councils tend to do the same.

David Perrott, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

In MS Office XP I have pasted and linked an Excel object into a MS Word document. I have tried everything but to no avail to get rid of the unwanted gridlines surrounding the linked objects.  I’ve tried Cell Formatting, Borders On/Off, Eraser and even attempting to remove all the gridlines from the source spreadsheet work unpredictably or not at all.  Can anyone help?

Andrew Humphries, via email

I work as a volunteer for a regional cancer charity, and some of our fund raising events are too small to warrant media advertising. Is there a resource, database or web site where by inputting a central postcode we could ascertain the number of letterboxes within a defined area? This would save wastage by reducing of the number of leaflets we need to print.

Malcolm Harvey, Wessex Cancer Trust