A PDF watermark adds a semi-transparent text overlay — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, or any custom text — across every page. Use the interactive canvas below to position the watermark exactly where you want it.
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Watermark Settings
Preview — Click to Position Watermark
Click anywhere on the preview to set the watermark center position
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How to Add a Watermark to a PDF
Adding a watermark to a PDF marks document status, restricts distribution, or identifies confidential content. This PDF watermark tool renders a live preview on the actual PDF page so you can see exactly where the watermark will appear before downloading.
Step 1: Upload Your PDF
Click "Choose File" or drag a PDF onto the upload area. The tool uses PDF.js to render the first page on a canvas so you can preview the watermark placement in real time. No data is sent to any server.
Step 2: Configure the Watermark
Set your watermark text (CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, INTERNAL, or anything custom up to 40 characters). Choose font size, opacity, rotation angle, and color. A 30% opacity with 48pt font at 45 degrees is a good starting point — visible without obscuring the document content.
Step 3: Position the Watermark
The canvas preview shows the actual PDF page with a live watermark overlay. Click anywhere on the preview to set the watermark center at that point. Alternatively, use the 9-position grid presets (Top Left, Center, Bottom Right, etc.) to snap to common positions. The preview updates instantly as you adjust any setting.
Step 4: Choose Pages and Download
Select which pages to watermark: all pages, first page only, or a custom range (e.g., "1-3,5"). Click "Download Watermarked PDF" — the tool applies the watermark to every selected page using pdf-lib's page.drawText() with your configured opacity, rotation, and position. The result downloads as watermarked.pdf.
Choosing the Right Opacity
Opacity 10-20%: Very subtle, mainly for internal tracking. Opacity 25-35%: Standard visible watermark, text readable underneath. Opacity 50-70%: Prominent, partially obscures content. Opacity 100%: Fully opaque, blocks content behind watermark. Most professional watermarks use 25-40%.
FAQ
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No — all watermarking happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF files are never sent to any server. When you close the tab, everything is cleared from memory.
Can I use custom watermark text?
Yes — type any text into the watermark input field. The default is CONFIDENTIAL but you can use DRAFT, INTERNAL, your company name, or any text up to about 40 characters.
Can I control the watermark opacity?
Yes — the opacity slider lets you set transparency from 10% (very faint, barely visible) to 100% (fully opaque). A setting of 25-35% is typical for visible-but-unobtrusive watermarks.
Will the watermark cover the page content?
The watermark is drawn on top of the page content with your chosen opacity. At low opacity (20-30%), the page text and images remain readable through the watermark. Higher opacity makes the watermark more prominent but may obscure content.
Can the watermark be removed after adding it?
The watermark is embedded as drawn content in the PDF — it's not a separate layer. To remove it, you would need the original unwatermarked file. Keep the original if you may need to remove the watermark later.