Add Watermark to Image

How to Add a Watermark to an Image

A watermark is a visible overlay -- usually text or a logo -- placed on an image to indicate ownership, discourage unauthorized use, or brand your content.

Adding a watermark to your images is one of the most effective ways to protect your creative work online. When you share photos on social media, marketplaces, or client galleries, a watermark ensures viewers know who created the image. It also deters content theft -- while not foolproof, a visible watermark makes an image far less attractive to steal because removing it cleanly requires significant effort.

Text watermarks are the most common type. They typically include a photographer's name, business name, copyright notice, or website URL. The key to an effective text watermark is balance: it should be visible enough to serve its purpose but subtle enough not to ruin the viewing experience. Most professionals use semi-transparent text at moderate size, placed strategically on the image.

Watermark Placement Strategies

Where you place your watermark matters. A center placement is bold and hard to crop out, making it ideal for proofing images sent to clients before purchase. Corner placements (bottom-right is most common) are subtler and work well for portfolio sharing and social media. Tiled watermarks repeat across the entire image in a diagonal pattern, providing maximum protection since they cannot be cropped or cloned out without destroying the image -- this is the standard approach for stock photo previews and client proofing galleries.

Opacity and Readability

Watermark opacity is typically set between 20% and 40%. At 20-30%, the watermark is visible but does not significantly distract from the image content. At 40-50%, it becomes more prominent and harder to remove. For maximum protection (like stock photo previews), higher opacity ensures the watermark is unmistakable. White text with a subtle shadow works on most images because the shadow provides contrast against light areas while the white text remains visible against dark areas.

Font Size Considerations

The ideal font size depends on your image dimensions and placement mode. For center and corner placements, a font size that spans roughly 20-40% of the image width is typical. For tiled watermarks, smaller text (spanning 10-20% of width) works better because the repetition itself provides coverage. Our tool lets you preview changes in real time so you can find the perfect balance for each image.

Watermark Use Cases

Watermark Tool Features

Frequently Asked Questions