What a PDF watermark is
A watermark is a faint text or image stamped on top of every page of a PDF, usually rotated and partially transparent. You see it most often on drafts ("DRAFT", "CONFIDENTIAL", "DO NOT COPY"), client deliverables with the agency logo across the middle, or leaked-document deterrents with the recipient's name on each page.
This tool drops your PDF in, lets you choose text (with font, size, color, opacity) or an image (PNG/JPG logo with opacity). You pick the position (single centered stamp, diagonal across the page, or tiled grid) and the rotation angle. Everything runs in your browser with pdf-lib - your PDF and your logo never leave your device.
How to use it
- Drop a PDF onto the upload area or click to pick one from disk. The file stays in your browser.
- Pick text watermark or image watermark. For text, type the word or phrase. For image, upload a PNG or JPG (PNG with transparency is recommended).
- For text: set font size, color (pick any color, gray is the classic muted look), opacity (around 0.2-0.4 looks professional).
- For image: set opacity and scale. Logos at 40-60% width usually look right.
- Choose the position: a single centered diagonal stamp (the classic "DRAFT" look), or a tiled grid repeated across the page.
- Set the rotation angle in degrees. -45 (negative forty-five) is the standard diagonal across the page.
- Press Apply, preview the first page, then Download the watermarked PDF. The original PDF is untouched.
When this is useful
Six everyday reasons to stamp a watermark onto a PDF:
- Mark a document as "DRAFT": stop someone from forwarding an unfinished version as the final one.
- Brand client deliverables: a faint agency or studio logo across every page reinforces your work without overwhelming the content.
- Tag a document with the recipient name: NDAs and leaked-document deterrents put the reader's email on every page, so if it surfaces online you know who leaked it.
- Add a "CONFIDENTIAL" or "INTERNAL USE ONLY" stamp: a legal-feeling header that signals the content should not be redistributed.
- Watermark sample chapters from a book: free preview PDFs with the publisher's logo encourage the full purchase.
- Mark archived versions: stamp "ARCHIVED 2025-01" or a version number so old PDFs stay distinct from current ones.
Companion tools: PDF page numbers, PDF metadata editor.