About Watermark
A watermark is a statement made on every page at once. "DRAFT" says the content is not final. "CONFIDENTIAL" says it is not for circulation. A name or a date says who the copy was for. Because it is drawn into the page, it travels with every printout and screenshot.
This tool writes the words of your choice across all the pages of a PDF. You decide how it is laid out, what colour it is and how heavy it looks. It runs in your browser, so the document is not uploaded.
How to watermark a PDF
- Choose the PDF.
- Write the words. The box starts with "DRAFT"; replace it with whatever you want, such as "CONFIDENTIAL" or a name.
- Choose "Across the page": Diagonal for the classic slanted stamp, Tiled for a repeating pattern, or Along the foot for a quiet line at the bottom.
- Pick the Ink: grey, red, blue or black. Pick the Weight: Faint, Light, which is the default, or Strong.
- Press the button, look at the preview to make sure the text on the page is still readable, and save.
When you would use it
- Marking a document as a draft while it is being reviewed.
- Labelling a document as confidential before sharing it.
- Putting the recipient’s name on a copy, so a leaked copy can be traced.
- Stamping "COPY" or "SAMPLE" on a document you give away.
- Marking an internal file so it is not mistaken for the final version.
What it will not do
- The watermark is text only. A logo or an image is not an option.
- It is drawn into the page, so it cannot be switched off in a viewer. Someone with an editor and effort could still remove it, so it is a deterrent and not a lock.
- A strong watermark in a dark colour can make the page harder to read, and the preview is there to help you judge that.
- It writes the same words on every page. There is no per-page text.
- For a smaller line in the margin, such as a case reference or date, use Header & footer. For something that must really be hidden, use Redact.
How it compares
A header or footer is quiet and meant to be read when needed; a watermark is large and meant to be noticed. Pick the one that matches how visible the message should be.
Many free online watermark tools put their own mark on the result or require a sign-up. Here, the only watermark is the one you write.
Tips
- Faint is usually enough for DRAFT. A heavy mark makes the text difficult to read.
- Grey works on both light and dark content. Red is more attention-seeking.
- Keep the original without the watermark, since adding one cannot be undone.
- If several people receive copies, make one watermarked file per person with their name on it, and keep a list of who received which. That is the practical way to trace a leak. For a draft that goes through many rounds, put the version or date in the words, such as DRAFT 2 – 14 MAY, so a printed page can be placed in the sequence at a glance.