Published 29 April 2024

What do you do when you want to protect your photos, videos, or documents from illicit use? You watermark PDF documents to secure them.

Watermarks are signs or texts added in any document/ multimedia to authorise exclusive ownership of a document.


This guide walks you through each step to easily add a watermark to your PDF documents.

Adding a watermark to your PDF document.

PDF documents are rampant in every organisation. They are used widely to share confidential, bureaucratic, or even official information.

When you add a watermark to PDF documents, keep these few things in mind:

  1. The watermark sign/text should be fixed and transparent.
  2. It should be positioned in a way so that it does not conflict with the content.
  3. You can either watermark a single page or a range of pages.

    An arrow mark pointing to all the PDF tools available in Adobe Acrobat

Securing files online: Watermarking PDFs on the web.

While there are many online platforms for adding watermarks to PDF documents, Adobe Acrobat stands out for its trustworthiness and efficiency. Its reliability and quick processing make it a preferred choice for professionals. Here, we will guide you through the steps to watermark PDFs online using Adobe Acrobat’s robust features.

Step 1: Visit acrobat.adobe.com and open the document.

Step 2: To open the PDF, click on the ‘Export a PDF’ button.

Step 3: From the pop-up window, select the file from your desired location.

Step 3: From the ‘Tools’ button, select the ‘Edit PDF’

Step 4: Click on the ‘Watermark’ option.

Step 5: Click on ‘Add’ and then on ‘Text’ to watermark PDF online.

Step 6: Adjust the font, alignment, colour, and everything else necessary.

Step 7: If your watermark in a PDF document is an image, then select ‘File’.

Step 8: Click on ‘Browse’ and then ‘Open’.

Step 9: From the ‘Appearance’ option, select the location (behind or on top of the page)

Step 10: Once satisfied with all the modifications, click on the ‘OK’ button and save changes.

Selecting Edit PDF tool to add watermark

How to edit PDF watermarks online.

If you’ve already added a watermark, then follow the following steps to edit PDF watermark online:

Step 1: Click on the watermark that you want to edit and click on the ‘Edit’ option.

Step 2: Change the content- text, image, or font as needed.

Step 3: Reposition & change its transparency and then click on ‘Save’/ ‘Save As’ and then ‘OK’.

Customising watermarks for enhanced security.

Adobe Acrobat allows you to customise a watermark PDF online for increased security of your PDFs. You should always make sure to add unique logos, patterns or overlays that can’t be imitated.

This is because:

  • They serve as digital signatures & indicators of ownership
  • Watermarks diminish the misuse or false ownership of documents
  • Slogans and logos used as watermarks on PDF document promote brand identity.

Comparing online tools for watermarking PDF documents.

When choosing tools to watermark PDF documents, it's important to be aware of the risks associated with online tools, such as potential data breaches and content mismanagement during editing. The best approach is to opt for a reliable and native tool that prioritises the integrity and protection of your documents. Adobe Acrobat simplifies this process with its built-in watermark editing feature, allowing you to add watermark to PDF online that enhances your document's security without compromising on quality.

Consider these factors:

  • User-friendly interface to simplify watermarking for beginners.
  • Extensive customisation options to customise texts, add image-based watermarks, adjust opacity, etc.
  • Add encryption and other security protocols for sensitive information.

Sample of watermarked document

Enhance your PDF security through watermarks.

Watermarks help you add authenticity and credibility to your PDFs. It is a matter of clicks. With Adobe Acrobat’s extensive features, you can enhance PDF security and protect your valuable information against misuse or unauthorised distribution. The above steps help you in securing your documents against plagiarism and tampering. Adding watermark to PDF documents also protects intellectual property rights and enables traceability and distribution.

Frequently asked questions.

Why should I consider adding a watermark to my PDF files?

Watermarks help authorise your document and protect it against illicit use.

Can I add a watermark to my PDF documents using online tools?

You can watermark PDF documents online using tools like Adobe Acrobat that let you customise PDF watermarks easily.

Can I edit or remove a watermark from a PDF file if needed?

Yes, you can remove/ edit PDF watermark online from a document simply under the ‘Tools’ button.

How does adding a watermark contribute to the security of my files?

You can add watermark to PDF document to increase the security of your document by minimising the threat of illicit or unauthorised sharing.