Before you post (in Russian)
What to check in the frame and in the file itself before strangers see a photo: the background, reflections, documents and the geotag.
images without risk: a guide to photos and privacy
Picsafe: how to share photos and pictures without risk
Every day we send dozens of pictures: to family, colleagues, group chats and forums. Hardly anyone stops to think that the image carries the date it was taken, sometimes the exact location, and that a number plate or a bill on the table can slip into the frame. Here we explain, calmly and without scaremongering, what is hidden in a file, how to choose a format, how to respect other people's authorship and how not to lose your own photos.
A safe picture is not one you are afraid to show, but one you know everything about: who took it, what is visible in the background and who can open the link. A couple of minutes of attention before sending saves a long struggle to take something back.
Four directions
Formats and size (in Russian)
How a photo differs from a screenshot as a file, and why the same picture can be several times larger than it needs to be.
Others' images (in Russian)
When an image found through search can go into your article or greeting card, and when you need to ask the author first.
Keep your own photos
How to build a home photo archive so that one broken phone or drive does not cost you years of family history.
Guide sections
- Sections
The guide's four topics: photo privacy, file formats and size, image rights and keeping a photo archive.
- Guides
How to share family photos safely: preparation, steps with hypothetical examples, mistakes and a checklist. Plus the article catalogue.
- Questions
Short answers about geotags, image quality, formats, copyright and photos of other people.
- Collections
Reading paths: checking a photo before posting, photos of children and a home archive without losses.
- Reference
Glossary: format, compression, resolution, palette, metadata, EXIF, geotag, licence, exclusive right.
- New
A feed of the guide's materials with dates and topic tags.
- Archive
All materials by date and topic, plus a note about old addresses on this domain.
Before you send a photo: five steps
Look at the background
Scan the whole frame, not just the main subject. The background often holds a house number sign, an envelope, an open laptop or a mirror reflecting the room.
Check the metadata and geotag
Open the file's properties and see whether coordinates are recorded. If the photo is going public, it is better to remove the location and switch the camera's location feature off for shots like this.
Choose the format and size
JPEG suits a landscape or a portrait; PNG suits a diagram with labels. Shrink the image to the size the recipient actually needs: it opens faster and is easier to pass on.
Decide who can see the link
If you share a file by link, check whether anyone with the address can open it or only the people you choose. Links are easy to forward, so restricted access is better for personal photos.
Keep the original yourself
The copy you send is usually compressed and loses some detail. Keep the full-size original in your own archive: it is useful for printing and, if needed, helps show that you are the author.
The essentials in brief
Are you a photo hosting site?
No. Picsafe is a guide, not a storage service. We do not accept, store or display your files; we only explain how to handle images with care.
Can I use a picture I found through search?
A picture found through search almost always belongs to someone: under Russian law a photograph is protected by copyright just like a text or a piece of music, and most other countries treat it similarly, though details differ, so check local law. It is safer to choose an image under a free licence, follow its terms and credit the author, or ask for permission.
How do I remove a geotag?
This is usually done in the file's properties or in the options when sending: you can delete the location information there. Even more reliable is turning off location recording in the camera for everyday shots.
Can I post photos of my friends?
Under Russian law, as a general rule, a person's image may be shown publicly only with their consent, and the law allows few exceptions; rules differ in other countries, so check local law. The simplest approach is to ask your friends beforehand and take the photo down if anyone objects.
About the project
This domain used to host a photo hosting service, and later unrelated pages appeared here that had nothing to do with photos or with our guide. The files and pages of the former site have not survived, and we do not reproduce them. Picsafe is not connected with that site and does not accept files; the name simply came to us along with the domain.
We write for ordinary people: parents who share pictures of their children, authors of small blogs, anyone putting together a family archive. There is no advertising for software or platforms here, no rankings and no grand promises, just clear explanations, checked facts and habits that help you avoid giving away too much or infringing other people's rights.
Sources
- EXIF metadata format specification (general provisions)
- Descriptions of the JPEG, PNG and GIF image formats
- Civil Code of the Russian Federation, Articles 152.1, 1259 and 1281
This information is a general overview as of the date it was prepared. Devices and software are updated, so the names of settings and menu items on yours may look different. Legal information is given for general guidance only: if a dispute arises, it is best to consult a lawyer.