How to add a CONFIDENTIAL watermark to a PDF

A watermark tells the reader what they are holding before they read a word of it, and discourages a draft being passed on as final.

Add a watermark
Whichever tool you use here, the file stays on your device. How that works

Step by step

  1. 1Add the PDF.
  2. 2Type the text, for example CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT.
  3. 3Set the size, angle and how faint it should be.
  4. 4Turn on repeat if you want it across the whole page, then save.

Faint enough to read through, strong enough to notice

Around 20 per cent opacity at a diagonal angle is the usual choice. It reads clearly without fighting the text underneath.

A single large mark in the centre is right for status words like DRAFT. Repeating it across the page is for discouraging reuse, because it cannot be cropped out without damaging the content.

The watermark becomes part of each page. Anyone can still remove it with the right software, so treat it as a clear label rather than security.

Questions

Does it go on every page?

Yes, every page of the document.

Can I use a logo?

The PDF tool takes text. For a logo on pictures, use the photo watermark tool.

Is the document uploaded?

No.