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Watermark PDF

Stamp a diagonal text watermark — CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, or your own text — across every page. Adjustable size, opacity, and colour. All in your browser.

Watermark PDF Tool

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Mark Every Page — CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, or Your Own Text

A watermark tells everyone how a document should be treated before they read a word of it. This tool draws your text diagonally across every page at the size, colour, and opacity you choose — ideal for marking contracts CONFIDENTIAL, labelling revisions DRAFT, or adding your name to work you share.

The watermark is drawn as real PDF text on top of each page, so the original content is untouched underneath. Everything runs on your device via open-source browser libraries — your file is never uploaded. You can verify it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my own text?

Yes — type anything up to 40 characters (a name, a status like DRAFT, a company name). It is stamped diagonally across every page.

Will it cover up my content?

The watermark is semi-transparent (you control the opacity), so the underlying text stays readable. Lower the opacity for a subtle mark.

Is the watermark permanent?

It is drawn into the downloaded copy. Your original file is never changed. For a truly tamper-resistant mark, flatten or protect the file afterwards.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. The watermark is applied locally with pdf-lib; your document never leaves your device.

Document marking guide

A watermark communicates status; it is not access control

“Confidential” or “Draft” can discourage casual redistribution, but it does not encrypt the PDF or prevent screenshots, printing or text extraction.

Write an unambiguous label

Use a status readers can act on: DRAFT, CLIENT COPY, CONFIDENTIAL or an expiry date. Avoid placing personal data in a watermark unless every recipient is authorised to see it. For individually tracked copies, include only identifiers your privacy policy permits.

Balance visibility and readability

A diagonal mark across the centre is difficult to crop away, but excessive opacity can obscure signatures and small print. Test the densest page in the document. Light grey often prints more reliably than a saturated colour on office printers.

Use the correct security layer

Add password protection when the file needs encryption in transit or at rest. Remove hidden metadata before external sharing. For regulated documents, use an approved document-management system with recipient access logs; a visual watermark alone does not establish who opened a file.

Security distinction reviewed 11 July 2026 · How QuickMerge publishes guidance