A watermark communicates status at a glance and discourages misuse. DRAFT stops a client quoting a figure you have not finalised. CONFIDENTIAL sets expectations before anyone reads a word. A company logo across a proposal makes a leaked copy traceable back to its source.
Add Watermark stamps text or an image across every page with control over opacity, rotation, size, colour and position — and over whether the mark sits behind the content or on top of it.
How to use Add Watermark
- 1Upload the PDF.
- 2Choose a text watermark and type your wording, or upload a logo image.
- 3Set opacity, rotation (45° diagonal is the convention), size and colour.
- 4Decide whether the mark sits behind the text or over it.
- 5Preview, apply to all pages, and download.
Behind or in front
Behind the content keeps the document fully readable and is right for branding and DRAFT marks. In front, at low opacity, is harder to remove convincingly and suits documents where deterrence matters more than perfect legibility.
Getting opacity right
Around 15–25% is the sweet spot for most documents: clearly visible, still readable underneath. Below 10% it disappears on print; above 40% it fights the text.
Watermarks are not security
A watermark is a deterrent and a status label, not protection. It does not stop copying or printing. For that, use Protect PDF to apply encryption and permission restrictions.
Supported formats, limits and things to know
- Watermarks are stamped into the page content and cannot be removed afterwards.
- Image watermarks accept PNG (transparency respected) and JPEG.
- The same mark is applied to every page; per-page variation is not supported.
- Encrypted documents must be unlocked first.
Add Watermark — frequently asked questions
Can a watermark be removed later?
Not from the output file — it becomes part of the page content. Always keep an unwatermarked original.
What opacity should I use?
15–25% works for most documents: clearly visible without making the text hard to read.
Can I use my company logo?
Yes. Upload a PNG — transparency is respected — and set its size, position and opacity.
Does the watermark go on every page?
Yes, it is applied uniformly across the document.
Does a watermark stop someone copying my document?
No. It is a visual deterrent. Use Protect PDF for encryption and permission restrictions.