5 ways to add watermark to PDF document
How to add watermark to PDF. Watermark are placed on the documents to make them secure from copying by others (for copyright documents), to mention their state as “draft”, confidential” etc.
Some documents are watermarked with company logo for official purposes. Watermark also prevent documents from misuse or fraud. For example you can submit PDF documents with permanent watermark for KYC purpose, required in banks, cellular operators etc.
In previous post we have explained how to remove watermark from pdf documents. In this post we explain you how to add watermark to pdf document.
Watermark can be in the form of picture or texts that can be placed in foreground and background of the documents.
Placing watermark on MS word document is easy and free but for PDF documents you may require a professional version of PDF editor such as Adobe acrobat or Foxit Phantom pdf editor.
In this post we will tell you different ways to place watermark on pdf document with both free and paid options.
Table of Contents
How to add watermark to pdf documents
By using following options you can place watermark on PDF documents:
- Converting pdf to word using MS Word and placing watermark using MS Word inbuilt watermark feature
- Using Adobe Acrobat or Foxit Phantom PDF editors
- Using online pdf editors
- Using PDF editor apps in Android and iOS
- Using Free version of Foxit Reader and Adobe Reader
Placing watermark using MS word
You can convert a PDF document to word document easily using MS Word 2013, 2016, 2019 or MS office 365 that is now renamed as Microsoft 365. PDF documents can also be converted into MS Word free using OneDrive and Google Drive.
To change the PDF to word just right click on the document and open with MS Word, if this option is not coming in the shown programs, you can add MS Word by “choose another app”.
For more details visit our previous post “how to convert PDF to word using MS Word 2016 or one drive.”
When the pdf document is converted into MS Word simply place watermark by following steps:
- Design Tab > Watermark
- Choose any pre configured watermark or create your custom watermark
In watermark tab you will find plenty of options like auto generated texts such as Confidential, Draft, Do not copy, Sample etc. In custom option, you can also place a picture as watermark.
Now again convert this Word file as PDF by save as pdf option.
Add watermark to PDF using Adobe Acrobat and Foxit Phantom PDF editors
Watermark can be easily placed using PDF editors, for example in Foxit phantom editor open watermark tab by “Edit > Watermark > add“.
In this window you can type your desired texts and also choose various customisation such as rotation of texts, color, size, fonts, margin, page range etc.
After placing the watermark save the document. In this window watermark can also be chosen from a file such as picture. The option of foreground and background is also available here.
So PDF editors having plenty of options to place watermark on pdf but for these editors you have to purchase their licences.
Using mobile apps in both Android and iOS platforms
Many free mobile apps also provide you options to add watermark to pdf documents.
Android Apps:
iOS Apps:
Placing watermark using online pdf editors
Various online PDF editor websites provide free options to add watermark on the pdf.
You have to upload the file into their website and choose various options online like Watermark as Text or image, font type and size, Colour, Orientation etc.
After placing the watermark pdf document can be downloaded to PC. The only drawback we found that there is no preview on some online platforms. However, some online platforms provide preview before downloading.
How to add Watermark using Foxit reader and Adobe reader Free
You can also place watermark using free versions of two popular pdf readers i.e. Foxit reader and adobe reader. We will tell some tricks, how to create watermark using Sign and Stamp feature of these PDF readers.
Placing watermark on PDF using Fill & Sign
This feature is available to place your signature on PDF documents in the form of picture, from clipboard, by drawing using mouse or stylus pen / pencil etc.
To use this feature you have to first create your image file or pdf file with watermark Texts.
Follow these steps to create a custom watermark template using MS Word
- Open a new MS word file
- Now Using insert tab insert a text box
- Type your desired text in this box example “Sample”
- Increase font size and rotate as per requirement
- You can also choose colour of texts
- Now right click on the border of text box
- In the format shape option choose no line
Now save this file as pdf format rename it e.g. watermark-1.
You can also save this text box in image format by using snipping tool or by any screen shot option of Windows.
To create new signature, in the new signature dialog, select import file as pdf (watermark-1), see the screen shot below:
Browse the location of this file and save the signature. Now this signature will be shown on the available signature in fill and sign tab.
Choose the signature and place on the document. Drag the watermark using red square with mouse and per your desired location and increase / decrease the size.
To place this water mark on multiple pages, right click and select place on multiple pages.
While saving the file select “apply to all” when prompted. Now this watermark will become permanent and cannot be dragged or removed using mouse in other PCs.
Other option to place watermark is using Custom stamp option.
How to place custom stamp on PDF using Foxit reader
- Open comment tab > create a custom stamp
- Browse the PDF file as created above and choose any stamp category or create your new one
- Also rename the stamp a name e.g. watermark-1
- Click ok, and custom stamp will be saved
- Now in the list of stamp this new stamp will be shown
- Select the watermark stamp to paste on the PDF document
- Right click on the stamp and choose property to change the opacity etc.
The only drawback of this stamp feature is that this is not transparent as like sign feature. To place on multiple pages, right click on stamp and select “ Place on multiple pages”
How to place watermark using Adobe Reader
Using Abobe reader also you can place watermark with “Fill & Sign” and Stamp feature.
On Adobe reader we have not found placing on multiple pages, as available in Foxit Reader by right clicking on the signature or custom stamp. However, you can copy paste on multiple pages.
Further after saving the file on Adobe reader Watermark can be dragged using mouse and can also be deleted. In the Foxit reader it was become as part of document after saving and cannot be dragged or deleted.
Final Words
Placing watermark on PDF was never as easy after evolving of many free PDF online editors and using mobile apps. Further using MS Office new PDF to Word convert feature, this work also become easy.
Placing watermark using Foxit and adobe reader is possible with some tricks and limited options (image option is not available). Hope you will be able to place watermark on pdf or edit the PDF documents using all the above options.