How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
A watermark can label a document as confidential, draft, approved or belonging to an organization without hiding the page content.
Choose useful watermark text
Use a short label such as CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT or a company name. A concise watermark is easier to read and less likely to obscure important text.
Apply the watermark
- Open Add Watermark.
- Select the PDF and enter the watermark text.
- Adjust the angle, size, color and opacity.
- Create the PDF and inspect both light and dark pages.
- Confirm that signatures, numbers and QR codes remain readable.
Balance visibility and readability
A diagonal watermark is harder to crop out, while low opacity keeps the document readable. Use stronger contrast only when the page background makes the label disappear.
What a watermark cannot do
A watermark discourages casual reuse but does not provide encryption or access control. For sensitive documents, combine it with appropriate sharing practices and password protection.