Add a Watermark to PDF

Free Online PDF Watermark Tool

Adding a watermark is a quick way to mark a document as a draft, indicate confidentiality, or label a file as a sample before sharing it more widely. LovePDFImg's PDF Watermark tool stamps your chosen text across every page, with control over position, rotation, size, opacity, and color, so the watermark is visible without overwhelming the original content.

The watermark is drawn directly onto each page using your browser's JavaScript engine - the original text, images, and layout of your PDF remain completely intact underneath the new layer. As with all core tools here, your file is processed locally and never uploaded to a server.

Watermarking is commonly used to protect draft contracts from being mistaken for a final version, mark internal documents as confidential before circulating them, or brand a sample document before sending it to a potential client.

How the PDF Watermark Tool Works

Using pdf-lib, the tool draws your chosen text as a new content layer on top of each page, at the position, rotation, size, and opacity you specify. Because this is an additive operation rather than a modification of the underlying page content, the original text and images are never altered - the watermark simply sits above them, visible but not destructive to the source material.

Key Features

• Customizable text watermark: Set your own wording, such as "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL".
• Adjustable position and rotation: Place the watermark center or in a corner, at any angle.
• Opacity, size, and color control: Fine-tune visibility to suit your document.
• Applied to every page: Consistent watermarking across the entire document.
• Browser-based processing: Your PDF never leaves your device.
• Free and unlimited: No account, no daily cap, no extra watermark from us.

Who Uses PDF Watermark?

Businesses: Mark internal reports or proposals as "Confidential" or "Draft" before circulating them.

Freelancers: Add a "Sample" watermark to a portfolio piece or proposal shared with a prospective client.

Legal professionals: Stamp draft contracts or agreements to prevent them from being mistaken for a final signed version.

Students and researchers: Mark preliminary or working versions of a paper before final submission.

Why Choose LovePDFImg to Add PDF Watermarks?

iLovePDF, Smallpdf, and PDF24 offer watermarking tools that typically process your file on a server. LovePDFImg applies the watermark entirely inside your browser using pdf-lib, so your document never leaves your device. There's no account requirement, no daily cap on usage, and - unlike some "free" watermarking tools - we don't add our own branding to your document on top of your chosen watermark.

Technical Details

Adding a watermark involves drawing a new text object onto each page's content stream at a specified position, rotation, and opacity, using the PDF's built-in graphics operators. Because this is layered on top of the existing content rather than replacing it, the underlying page data - including any selectable text - remains fully intact. Opacity control is achieved through PDF's transparency group support, allowing the watermark to be visible without fully obscuring the content beneath it.

How to Add a Watermark to a PDF

1. 1Upload your PDFDrag and drop your file or click to browse and select it from your device.
2. 2Type your watermark textEnter the text you want to stamp, such as "Draft" or "Confidential".
3. 3Adjust position, size, opacity and colorPick where the watermark appears and how prominent it should be.
4. 4Click "Add Watermark" and downloadThe watermark is applied to every page, and your new PDF is ready instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions