Prevent Walmart Printing of Your Facebook Photo Albums

UPDATE 07/22/2010 – Be sure to read the updated information posted below after the video.

Good evening all.

Thanks to Walter Van Dusen who brought to my attention Walmart is beta testing a new Facebook Connect application. This application allows access to your photo albums for printing. Many photographers have been using Facebook photo tagging as a way to generate word-of-mouth referrals from clients. I would assume a lot of folks have their album security set to “Friends of Friends”. Anyone who is listed with Friends access to your Facebook album will be able to print it via the Walmart application.

Before you decide to delete all your FB albums, it is possible for you to make a quick security settings change. Simply go to the Walmart Photo application and block it. Once blocked your albums will no longer show when someone uses Facebook Connect with Walmart Photo. The application ID on Facebook is 181585006811.

Here’s a quick video tutorial to show you how to block the app:

UPDATE 07/22/2010 – This week’s Tip Tuesday demonstrated a quick way to watermark images via Photoshop using Layer Styles. For MORE protection you can use a Digimarc watermark (accessed via Photoshop’s filter menu). Digimarc is like LoJack for your images, and provides Internet tracking. Loyal readers can try Digimarc’s basic service FREE for 90 days; use the discount code FREETRIAL2010. Take 25% off ANY Digimarc service with code MediaCats2010. Join me next week as I’ll have a video tutorial on how to use Digimarc in Photoshop to watermark your images.

UPDATE 07/21/2010 – I wanted to answer some of the questions posed in the comments. I have verified that if you TAG someone the image is NOT collected in a photo album, therefore it DOES NOT appear via Facebook Connect. This is good information for everyone who tags their clients. Photo albums, profile pictures, & mobile uploads appear when using the Walmart photo center. I did not conduct testing against the other apps listed in the comments, but I assume similar behavior. To find all the retail centers, many suggested to search Facebook for “print” then filter by Applications. This worked well for me.

Several folks commented that people can still save the image to their own computer for printing–that is true. It’s also true that by uploading the image to the Internet it can be taken by anyone. The measures suggested for securing your photos serve more as a deterrent and are not absolute controls. Thieves are lazy, and will take the path of least resistance. RC Concepcion wrote two articles that appear in the last two issues of Photoshop User magazine. He has some great recommendations as to why you would or wouldn’t watermark your images online. If you’re a member of NAPP you can access the back issues online. (If you join with my referral link, you’ll get a free DVD on signup)

UPDATE 07/18/2010 – Thanks to everyone for sharing this article. There have been some good comments, including the fact Walmart is not the only retail print option. As suggested by Rachel, I would block other print apps from companies such as Target, Walgreens, etc. If you’re new to the site, checkout the Tip Tuesday series for video tutorial content.

Scott Kelby’s 3rd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk

Good afternoon all!

Scott Kelby’s 3rd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk is less than two weeks away on Saturday, July 24th. I’m excited to be leading a photo walk again this year, and we’ll be meeting in the Dallas uptown area. For those unfamiliar with the photo walk, it is one of the largest global photography events, with over 1000 cities and nearly 25,000 photographers & photo enthusiasts shooting in a single day. Each walk is limited to 50 participants, so sign up for the Dallas walk now. Our walk will take place Saturday morning, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

The photo walk is open to anyone regardless of skill level OR camera type. (Cell phone cameras are welcome!) We’ll have plenty of mentors on hand that day for all your photography & Photoshop/Lightroom questions. Be sure to register before all the spots are filled.

Photo by John Hays, Photoshop by Yours Truly

Adobe Photoshop CS5 Video Tutorials

UPDATE 07/22/2010 – Come back each week for Tip Tuesday video tutorials, written tutorials, or subscribe to my unfiltered YouTube channel.

In case you missed it last week, I posted some Photoshop CS5 videos along with the rest of the Photoshop Nuts over at TipSquirrel. Here’s a breakout of the posting schedule:

TUE, April 13 Bridge Improvements Mike Hoffman
WED, April 14 Content Aware Fill Janine Smith
THU, April 15 Refine Edge & then HDR
Yours Truly
FRI, April 16 Bristle Brushes, Mixer Brushes Tim Shelbourne
==== ========== ====
MON, April 19 Scrubby Zoom & then CS Review Yours Truly
TUE, April 20 Lens Correction & ACR Justin Seeley
WED, April 21 Content Aware Healing Janine Smith
THU, April 22 Puppet Warp Justin Seeley
FRI, April 23 Layer Management Mike Hoffman

The response to the videos has been great! Thanks to everyone for getting the word out, and I’ll be posting more CS5 coverage over the next few weeks.

NAPP Nation – Photoshop World Orlando 2010

I’m still coming down from the high that is Photoshop World. Truly, as an adult it has become my favorite holiday. This was my 6th visit to PSW, but the first time I’ve attended in the spring. It was fun to catch all the great performances BEFORE everyone has a chance to talk about it on Facebook & Twitter. The party’s a lot more exciting when you don’t know what’s coming.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in Orlando, and it was great to meet so many Twitter & Facebook folks in person for the first time. Chatted with Adobe folks at the Tweetup, and celebrated my 40+ birthday during the NAPP forum party. I met the genius that is @ErikBernskiold, chatted with fab designer @Firgs, hung out with the likes of @Elorg, @EGower, @AprilAndrews & the infamous @Vanelli. Caught up with friends Dawn, Terry & Heather, had a chance to chat some with David Ziser and his lovely wife LaDawn. I have been through most of the classes at PSW, so I was really looking forward to seeing new presentations. Zack Arias DID NOT disappoint. Walked away humbled, and excited at the possibilities. Of course, you can’t go wrong watching Joe McNally, and I enjoyed catching RC talk about websites for photographers & Rod Harlan share his knowledge of social media. Missed Alan Hess Precon, but had a chance to catch his session, and chat with him after the After Party. Some amazing talent at PSW, met Michael Green at the NAPP forum party (he’s featured in the Westcott catalog don’t ya know), Joey Wright at BB Kings (designers who photograph have an edge), chance encounter with Sandy Foster (from Dallas) at the NAPP forum party the day before she won the Vinny–CONGRATS AGAIN!!!

People ask me why I attend over & over–how could you not want to be around the best in the world as often as possible? I can’t emphasize this enough Photoshop World is THE learning conference to attend if you are a creative. I’ve been to Imaging USA, MacWorld & other events. Other conferences serve as infomercials for their presenters & vendors. PSW is not only a fun place to network with other creatives, THIS conference provides classes that educate, inspire & motivate the artist in all of us.

In summary:

Scott Kelby tells you what you missed at Photoshop World.

Terry Reinert has some ideas on what to do now that Photoshop World is over.

Here’s a quick Flickr gallery of snaps from PSW.