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PDF Watermark

Free online PDF watermark tool with center / tile / diagonal layout, opacity, rotation and color options

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Watermark settings

Layout

Result

Upload a PDF to add a watermark

About this tool

PDF watermarking overlays text or a mark to communicate source, status, recipient, or confidentiality. Position, rotation, opacity, and page range determine readability and interference. Avoid covering body text, signatures, barcodes, and information needed for accessible reading.

A watermark communicates rules but cannot technically prevent screenshots, cropping, or page reconstruction. Personalized recipient data can improve traceability but also writes personal information into the file and needs an appropriate retention and distribution policy.

How to use it

  1. Prepare concise text

    State status, organization, or recipient without adding unnecessary sensitive data.

  2. Set style and page range

    Preview position, angle, color, and opacity on representative pages.

  3. Generate and inspect every page

    Confirm coverage of intended pages without obscuring critical content.

Supported range and limits

Watermark type
Text, tiled by default, with center, diagonal, and adjustable opacity options
Preview behavior
The result on the right updates automatically after upload or any watermark setting change
How it is applied
A new layer is drawn over the page; the original page objects are not rewritten
Is it tamper-proof
No. The watermark is a layer another PDF tool can edit or remove; it marks a document, it does not protect one
Effect on the text layer
None. Body text remains selectable and copyable after watermarking
Coverage
Applied to every page, with position computed per page when sizes differ
When you need real protection
Set an open password with PDF Encrypt instead

When you would use it

  • Marking a review version

    Add DRAFT, date, or version information to reduce confusion with a final document.

  • Restricted distribution

    Generate a traceable copy labeled with an authorized recipient or project number.

  • Marking the status of a document you are circulating

    Overlay Draft or Internal Use Only on a review copy so nobody mistakes it for the final version.

What to know before you start

  • Watermarking modifies the file and invalidates an existing digital signature.
  • A watermark is neither permanent redaction nor digital rights management and does not replace access control.
  • A personalized mark containing names, emails, or identifiers is itself protected data.

Related concepts

overlay
New graphic or text content drawn above the existing page.
opacity
How opaque the overlay is, controlling visual competition with the document.

Frequently asked questions

Does adding a watermark upload my PDF?
No. The watermark is drawn and written into the PDF locally in your browser, with no upload to any server.
What watermark styles are available?
You can position with a 3x3 grid, tile or diagonally tile the mark, and adjust text, opacity, rotation and spacing.
Is the watermark applied to every page?
Yes. The text watermark is added to every page, ideal for stamping a whole document with copyright or a “confidential” mark.
Does a watermark stop someone reusing the file?
It marks and deters, no more. The watermark is an overlay layer that other PDF tools can edit or remove. Its value is making the document's purpose and status unmistakable, not technical protection.
What kind of watermark is hardest to remove?
Large, semi-transparent diagonal tiling that crosses the body text is far more resistant than a small mark in a corner. The cost is readability, so it is a trade-off.

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