How to Add a Watermark to a PDF

A watermark — CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, or your company name — diagonally across each page signals how a document should be treated and discourages misuse. Here's how to add one.

Choosing your watermark text

Common choices are CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, COPY, or a name. Keep it short so it reads clearly across the page.

Opacity matters

A watermark should be visible but not so dark it obscures the text underneath. A medium, semi-transparent setting usually strikes the right balance.