There are two versions of every photo on Fotto: the preview everyone can see, and the original only a buyer gets.
Before payment: the preview
Every photo shown publicly is a low resolution, watermarked preview. It is good enough for a runner to recognise themselves, but not good enough to keep or print.
Your original is stored clean and private. The watermark is never baked into it. Instead, Fotto composites the watermark onto the preview at the moment it is viewed. That means when you change your watermark, every preview across all your galleries updates instantly. No re-uploading, no waiting for photos to reprocess.
There are four watermark styles: single, tile, band, and combo. Each works with either text or your logo.
After payment: the original
The moment a buyer pays, the full resolution, watermark free file unlocks. They can download it straight away and re-download it later from their purchases. This is the only time an original ever leaves your gallery.
Note
Your originals are never shown or served for free. This is a hard rule on Fotto, so you can upload your best work without worrying about it being lifted.
Why it matters for you
A clear preview sells better because the runner can tell it is them, so do not crank the watermark so heavy it hides the shot. Tile style protects best if you are worried about people trying to use previews. Balance protection against being recognisable.
Next, if something is not working, see Troubleshooting.