A watermark shows who made a picture and discourages people from reusing it without credit. It is quick to do for a single photo or an entire shoot.
Text or logo?
- Text watermark: your name, website or a copyright line. Simple and flexible.
- Logo watermark: a PNG with a transparent background. More professional and brand-consistent.
Add a watermark in four steps
- Open Watermark Images.
- Drop in your photos. You can add many and they all get the same watermark.
- Choose Text and type your line (for example the copyright symbol and your name), or choose Logo / image and upload your logo.
- Set the size, opacity, rotation and position, then download. Multiple images come as a ZIP.
Where to put it
- Corner (bottom right): unobtrusive, but easier to crop out.
- Centre: hard to remove but distracting. Use low opacity.
- Tiled across the picture: best protection against theft. Use 15 to 30 percent opacity and a slight rotation.
Good settings
| Goal | Size | Opacity | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtle branding | 15 to 25% of width | 50 to 70% | Corner |
| Protect proofs | 30% of width | 30% | Centre or tiled |
| Stock preview | Tiled | 25% | Rotated -30 degrees |
Make it readable on any photo
A white watermark disappears on bright images and a black one on dark images. This tool adds a soft shadow behind text so it stays visible. If your photos vary a lot, use medium opacity and a subtle outline.
Add other text or captions
If you want a caption or title rather than a watermark, use Add Text to Image. To place a sticker, texture or another photo on top, use Overlay Images.
Protect your files further
- Remove EXIF data only on public copies if you do not want to expose your location. Or use the EXIF Editor to put your name and copyright into the file metadata.
- Share web-sized, compressed versions instead of originals. Use the Image Compressor.
Can watermarks be removed?
A determined editor can remove a simple corner watermark. A tiled watermark across the whole picture is much harder. Remember a watermark is a deterrent, not a lock.
Make it visible but not annoying
A watermark has to protect your work without ruining the picture.
- Opacity around 30 to 50 percent keeps it readable but gentle.
- Placement: a corner is easy to crop out. Across the middle is harder to remove but more intrusive. Many photographers use a repeated diagonal pattern for proofs.
- Contrast: use white on dark areas and dark on bright ones, or add a soft shadow.
- Size: around 10 to 20 percent of the image width is common for corner marks.
Text or logo?
Text is quick and flexible. A transparent PNG logo looks more professional. Use watermark images to apply the same mark to a whole batch, or overlay images when you want to position a logo exactly.
Limits to know about
No watermark stops a determined thief, but it discourages casual copying and gives credit. For client previews, export a small, low-resolution copy with a watermark and keep the full-size file back until payment.
Finishing steps
Add captions or credits with add text to image. Then shrink the result with the image compressor so it loads fast on your site.
Frequently asked questions
What opacity should a watermark have?
50 to 70 percent for subtle branding in a corner, and 25 to 35 percent for a large or tiled watermark that protects previews.
Where is the best place for a watermark?
A corner is unobtrusive but easy to crop. The centre or a tiled pattern is much harder to remove but more distracting, so use low opacity.
Can I watermark many photos at once?
Yes. Bulk watermark tools apply the same text or logo to every picture and give you a ZIP.
Can a watermark be removed?
A simple corner mark can be edited out by a determined person. A semi-transparent tiled watermark is far harder to remove.
