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Rethinking image credits: our Image Scanner makes AI visible
AI imagery has become a normal part of the web. Its origin should not disappear into the small print. At dashdesign;, we therefore identify images exactly where the information is needed: on the image itself.
Published · by dashdesign; Team
Transparency without walls of text
Traditional image credits quickly turn into long lists that few people read and that make a website feel unnecessarily heavy. We wanted a solution that is transparent while still supporting a clear and easy-to-read interface.
That is why we do not publish a register filled with countless cards and preview images. The source data remains available in a structured form without rendering extra content on every page. This keeps the interface calm and avoids unnecessary work in the browser.
How the Image Scanner works
The scanner can be activated on our image credits page and left permanently enabled if desired. Its status is stored locally in the browser, so the feature remains available after navigating to another page.
When the scanner is active, a right-click on an image is enough. A label appears directly on the visual, identifying it as AI-generated, AI-edited, real photography, a stock image, a screenshot or a brand asset. It also works with images embedded as design backgrounds.
Visible to people, readable by machines
The visible label is only one part of the solution. We also record the digital source using the IPTC Digital Source Type and provide the image information as machine-readable data.
The website remains uncluttered while search engines, analysis tools and other systems can classify the origin of an image technically. We have not encountered this exact combination of a persistent scanner, right-click access, background image support and structured source data on another website.
Ready for new transparency requirements
The transparency obligations under Article 50 of the European AI Act apply from 2 August 2026. Among other goals, they are intended to make AI-generated or manipulated content reliably recognisable.
Our Image Scanner is our own technical response to that objective. It does not replace an individual legal assessment, but it creates a clear and traceable basis for handling AI images transparently.
Transparency does not have to look like mandatory small print. When the information is available on the image itself, the page stays clear and the credit is still only one right-click away.
Konrad Mayer, Managing Director