How to Add a Text Watermark to Your Photos

How to watermark photos

• Open Watermark Image and add one or more photos.
• Type your text, such as your name or website.
• Choose the colour, size and how strong it appears.
• Choose the position: a corner, the centre, or repeated across the image.
• Press the button and download the watermarked pictures.

Where to place it

A corner watermark is tidy, but it is also the easiest to crop out. Placing it near the centre or repeating it across the image is harder to remove, though it covers more of the picture. Choose the balance that suits how you share your work.

Keep it subtle

Use a lower strength so the photo is still pleasant to look at. White works on dark photos and black or grey on light ones.

Protect your originals

Always keep an unwatermarked copy of every photo. The watermarked version is a copy for sharing, and watermarks are a deterrent, not a guarantee against copying.

Common mistakes

• Making the watermark so strong that it spoils the photo.
• Placing it only in a corner that is easy to crop out.
• Using colours that are hard to see on that photo.
• Not keeping the original without a watermark.

Why photographers and sellers use watermarks

A watermark discourages other people from using your photo as their own. Photographers, artists and online sellers add a name, logo or website to pictures before posting them. It also acts as small free advertising, because people who see the picture know where it came from.

Placement and style

A watermark in the corner is easy on the eye but also easy to crop away. One across the middle is harder to remove but can spoil the picture. A common compromise is a semi transparent mark that sits over a busy part of the photo, where it is difficult to remove cleanly.

• Use some transparency so the picture stays enjoyable.
• Keep the text short, such as a name or website.
• Use the same style on all your photos.

Keep a clean original

Always export the watermarked version as a new file and store the clean original somewhere safe. Post only the watermarked copy and only a resolution that is big enough for viewing, not for printing. This gives you proof that you are the owner of the full quality file.

Watermarking many photos consistently

If you post regularly, decide on one watermark style and keep to it. Use the same wording, size and position every time, so your pictures become recognisable. Choose a spot that works for both portrait and landscape photos, for example the bottom right corner with some margin.

Test the watermark on a bright photo and on a dark one. A mark that is perfect on one may be invisible on the other. A thin outline or a slight shadow can help it stay visible on all backgrounds.

Finally, check the picture on a phone. If the watermark can only be read when zoomed in, make it a little bigger.

Frequently asked questions