How to remove watermarks from photos using AI?
I found a photo online for my project, but it has a stock photo watermark all over it. I heard that AI can remove it. Which service does the best job at removing watermarks?
2 answers
★ Best answer
Yes, neural networks actually do handle watermark removal pretty well, but here's the thing: if the photo is licensed, removing a stock photo's watermark is a copyright violation, even if you technically can do it! Better to first check if you can buy a license for the image without the watermark, or find a similar photo on free image services (Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay). It's more honest and easier than dealing with problems later.
If you really need that specific photo and you're willing to buy it, then for removing artifacts (scratches, logos on your own photos) there are services like Inpaint, Remove.bg, or Cleanup.pictures - they give decent results on simple cases. There are more powerful options too, but they require paid subscriptions and installation on your computer.
In practice though, for projects it's easiest to just use licensed images from the start - you'll save time on processing and spare yourself the headache of risking a copyright violation!
Are you really sure you can use this photo in your project? Even if you technically manage to remove the watermark, that won't solve the licensing issue - the photo is still someone else's and is protected by copyright. The fine for infringement can be serious if your project turns out to be public.
Better to just buy a license, download a photo from a service without watermarks (there are free ones - Unsplash, Pexels) or commission the image you need directly from the author. It's cheaper and less stressful than dealing with copyright claims later.
Ксения asker
Thanks, I really didn't think of that. I'll look for free services or buy a license.
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