A synopsis to get you up and running.
Anyone can quickly set up an account in the Online Services Portal (OSP). Once you're logged on, it's easy to create and manage project folders and individual services. Setting up a service entails embedding a digital watermark into an image. Next the image or text is linked to a URL for the web page, application or video to be delivered to smartphones when the watermark is detected. Setting up the service can be completed in seconds so there is very little impact on workflow.
Getting started
- Go to www.digimarc.com/portal to sign up for your free account or sign in if you’re already a user.
- If you don’t yet have a free account, select "Get Started Now." After selecting "Get Started Now," you'll be taken to the "Create Your Free Account" page.
- Complete the form and check your email to complete the registration process.
Creating projects
Each project works like a folder and helps you organize your watermarked content. For example, a project could reference an issue of a magazine, a section of a newspaper, or a specific client. These are just a few suggestions; feel free to choose a method of organization that makes sense to you.
We recommend assigning a project title that is easily recognizable for each publication. For example, let’s say you’re a magazine publisher for The Beaverton Post and you want to include digital watermarks in the March 2012 issue. We suggest naming your project something like "The Portland Post – March 2012."
After clicking “Submit,” you are taken to the Project Folders page that will list all of your projects. You’ll always be able to create additional projects from here by clicking on the “New Project Folder” button in the upper right area of the page.
Creating services
A project is composed of individual services. A service is essentially the process of linking a printed image or text block to a payoff of your choosing. For example, linking a printed car advertisement with a video of the car would be considered a service.
There are two key components that make a service:
- Input all the required information about the service; you cannot complete the service creation until all required fields contain data.
- The experience your readers will receive when digitally watermarked content is detected will be dependent on what interaction you choose in the OSP. The three interactions currently available are the following:
- Web address
Take your users directly to a URL. - Pop-up label overlay
Your URL label text will appear on screen, requiring users to tap before connecting to your URL. This is perfect for using when multiple interactive images are on a single page, or you want to give users a choice to connect or not. - Menu button overlay
Display an interactive banner and up to five buttons, all configurable within the Online Services Portal.
To clarify, if a magazine uses 75 different digital watermarks in the March issue, they would have 75 different services.
After choosing the interaction your readers will receive, select the date for each mobile service to start. The date you choose will be the start date for when the connection will "go live." Pricing depends on the length of time when the service will be active.
Click "Submit" after entering all your information to create the service. Now it’s time to embed a digital watermark into the image. After hitting "Submit," you will be taken to the Services List page, which has the following options:
- Process Image
Click this to launch the embedder where you will embed the digital watermark into your image. - Edit Service
Allows you to edit an existing service. For example, you would select "Edit Service" if you wanted to change the payoff URL, modify the description, or change the title. - Activate Service
If you haven't yet activated/purchased the service, this button will be displayed. Click this to activate the service. If you have already activated the service, you will be able to either add more time to your activated service by selecting "Extend Service" or re-activate and expired service by selecting "Renew." - New Service
Allows you to create a new service.
Embedding your image online
This is the next step, which is covered in detail here.
Activating a service
You can purchase a service from the Services List page. You will be required to Process an Image (embed online) and enter the payoff for that service before purchasing it. If not, you will receive the following warning message.
After you have processed your image and clicked "Activate Service," you will be taken to a page divided into three sections:
- Service Information
This section provides information on your service. You will see the service name, URL, and a thumbnail of your watermarked image. - Product Information
You can select the start date of your service and choose the service duration, which includes the price for each of the six different durations. - Payment Method
This section allows you to select your method of payment. More information on this section is described in more detail below.
After completing your purchase, you will receive a receipt confirming your purchase.
Reports
The Reports page shows the engagement activity of your services over a selected period of time. This lets you know how many times each unique watermarks was accessed by consumers using their smartphone.
Account Settings
The Account Settings tab allows you to enter additional account and contact information. Digimarc encourages users to enter information on this page to help us contact you in case we need to provide additional assistance related your Account. You can either click the “Edit Settings” or “Invite a User” button from this page. Following is an overview of these two buttons:
- Edit Settings
Select this option if you wish to update account information, such as contact information, address, etc. - Invite User
Select this option if you wish to grant access to your account to others. Please note, all members will have the same permissions as the account owner.