In your browser
- Open Watermark PDF and drop in the file.
- Type the text, such as CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT or a recipient's name.
- Choose size, color, opacity and angle. Repeated tiles the text across the whole page; Once, centered puts one large stamp in the middle.
- Click Add watermark and download the PDF.
Tips
- An opacity of 15–25% stays readable without hiding the content underneath.
- A recipient's name or company as the watermark discourages sharing, because a leaked copy shows who it came from.
What a watermark protects
A text watermark stops casual copying and makes the status of a document obvious. It is not security: anyone with a PDF editor can remove it. For documents that must not be changed, keep the original and share a flattened copy or a scan.
If you still have the Word file
Microsoft Word has Design → Watermark, which adds a watermark behind the text before you save as PDF.
Choosing the text
- DRAFT or NOT FINAL marks a version that is still changing.
- CONFIDENTIAL marks a document that should not be passed on.
- COPY or SPECIMEN marks a sample of a certificate, ticket or form that must not be used as the real thing.
- A name and date, such as "Prepared for J. Rivera, 10 Oct", traces a leaked copy back to the person who received it.
Common problems
- The watermark makes the text hard to read. Lower the opacity, choose a lighter color, or use one stamp in the middle instead of repeated text.
- It disappears when printed. Some printers drop very pale tones. Print one page as a test before printing the whole document, and raise the opacity if it vanishes.
- You need the clean version again. The watermark is part of every page of the new file. Keep the original unwatermarked file and add a new watermark to a fresh copy each time.