A watermark inside the content
An invisible watermark hides a signal inside an image, document or video, with no visible stamp. A matching detector can read it later. Using that signal to trace a copy is called forensic watermarking.
Three ways to mark a file
| Method | What it does | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Visible watermark | Shows a name or logo on the work. | It can be cropped or edited out. |
| File metadata | Stores details such as a creator’s name alongside the content. | Apps can remove it when saving or sharing. |
| Invisible watermark | Carries a hidden signal in the content itself. | Reading it needs a compatible detector; edits can affect recovery. |
From a shared copy to a record
With Etchv, the same workflow covers supported images, PDFs and short videos.
- Mark
- Send a file and a unique reference for this copy. Keep names and emails in your own system.
- Save
- Save the watermark ID with your record of who got the copy. Share the file Etchv returns.
- Find
- When a copy turns up, send it to Etchv to detect the watermark. Look it up in your records.
Use a different reference for each copy. The same reference always gives the same watermark. Detection returns the watermark, not your original data.
Test what happens after sharing
Etchv checks the watermark in the finished file before returning it. Later crops, compression, screenshots or edits can weaken the watermark. Test the versions people actually see, including files downloaded from the platforms you use.
Read a match in context
A match points to one copy’s record. It doesn’t tell you who shared the file or prove who owns it. Use access logs and other evidence for that.
No match leaves the question open. The file may never have been marked, may have been changed too much, or may carry another system’s watermark. For PDFs and videos, check the result for each page or frame too.
Choose the record you need
Keep a delivery record to investigate leaks, a license record to check how a photo is used, or a creation record for AI images. Etchv checks files you send it. It doesn’t search the web or block sharing.