Add watermarks to PDFs

The Watermarks tool lets you insert predefined or custom watermarks to all pages or a selection of pages in the PDF document. Watermarks can be text (e.g. page number, date and time, or information), an image (e.g. company logo), or a composite (a combination of existing watermarks). You can also apply a page of an existing PDF document as a watermark to a PDF document.

The watermarks you create can be saved and reused. Not only can you import and export watermarks to share them with others, but also specify whether you want to place the watermark in the background of the PDF, underneath the other page content, or on the top of the page content.

To add a new watermark into Watermark panel

1. Open a PDF file and do either of the following to open the Watermarks panel:

• • Choose Document > Assemble > Watermarks .

  • On the Sidebar Navigation pane, click the Watermarks icon .

2. To create a watermark, do any of the following:

• • Click the Create… button at the top of the Watermarks panel.

  • Click the Options button at the top of the Watermarks panel and select New from the options.

  • Right-click anywhere in the panel and select New from the options.

3. In the Create Watermark dialog box, click the Title field and name the watermark.

4. Select a type of watermark from the Type drop-down menu:

• • Text. Type the watermark text and/or select preset items from the Macros menu. Click the square sign  to the left of each item to insert into the Text field. Adjust the text formatting options as needed, such as font, size, angle and style.

  • Image. A watermark can be an image or a specified page of a PDF file. Click Browse… to locate an image or a PDF file. When a multipage PDF file is chosen, specify one page to be used. Fix or release the aspect ratio. Select Cover whole page to cover the whole page with the image. If deselected, you can define the size and the location for the image.

  • Composite. You can build a new watermark using the existing ones. Select the desired ones and click Add to place them in the box. Click OK.

5. Check Cross-pages watermark to make the watermark appear split across 2 pages or the edges of all pages.

6. Click OK.

Cross-pages watermark deselected.

Cross-pages watermark selected: the watermark appears split across two consecutive pages. 

To insert a watermark into a PDF document

1. In the Watermarks panel, do either of the following:

• • Select a watermark from the list of watermarks. Right-click on it and select Apply or click on Options and select Apply.

  • Double-click the watermark.

  • Directly drag the selected watermark to the document pane.

2. In the Apply Watermark dialog box, specify the pages on which the watermark displays. Select Specify Page Range and enter a page range in the field below. Then choose a Subset option from its drop-down menu.

Watermark settings and a preview of the result document with watermark added

3. In the Appearance section, adjust the opacity of the watermark and select the following as needed:

• • Check As background to place the watermark in the background of the PDF file underneath other page content. If deselected, the watermark is placed at the top of the page content.

  • To specify when the watermark displays: check Show when printing and Show on screen display.

4. Click OK.

Edit a watermark

You are able to change settings for any of the listed watermarks.

1. Open the Watermarks panel and do either of the following:

• • Right-click on a watermark and select Edit from the options.

  • Select a watermark you want to make changes to, click on the Options button and select Edit from the options.

2. In the Edit Watermark dialog box, make changes to settings as needed and Click OK.

Watermark set as background (Left) Watermark placed on the top (Right)

Import or export a watermark

To export watermarks

1. Do either or the following to open the Watermarks panel:

• • Choose Document > Assemble > Watermarks .

  • On the Sidebar Navigation pane, click the Watermarks icon .

2. Click the Options button and select Export from the options menu.

3. Select a path to save the exported watermarks as a single PDF file. Click OK. All watermarks are exported and saved as a GWM file.

To import watermarks

1. Click the Options button and select Import from the options menu.

2. Locate a GWM watermark file and click Open.

Remove all watermarks from a document

You can permanently remove all watermarks in the document.

1. Open a PDF file containing watermarks.

2. Choose Document > Assemble > Remove Watermark .

3. Click OK.

Use the Remove Watermark feature to permanently remove all watermarks in the document.