PDF files are generally considered to be safer, but did you know that you can further secure your PDF file by adding a watermark? In this article, you’ll learn how to add a watermark to a PDF file for free.
1. How to Add a Watermark to PDF Using ILovePDF
ILovePDF is a robust 24-in-1 tool that allows you to merge, split, compress, convert, paginate, rotate, unlock, and watermark PDF files, among others. Here’s how to add a watermark on a PDF using this tool.
Go to IlovePDF, hover your mouse over All PDF Tools, navigate to the Edit PDF section, and click on Add watermark. Here you can add an image or text to your PDF using different typography, transparency, and position settings. Click on the Select PDF button. You can also upload a PDF file using Google Drive, Dropbox, or by dragging and dropping it on the page. Click on the plus button to your right-hand side to add more PDF files. Under the “Watermark Options” section, click on the TEXT field, delete the placeholder text, and enter your preferred text. You can also format your text using the “Format text” toolbar. To add an image watermark, click on Place image, then Add image. Position your watermark using either the Position box or the Mosaic checkbox. You’ll see a preview of each effect. Click on Transparency to set your transparency level, and on Rotation to set its orientation. Select the range of pages on which you want to apply the watermark. You can also layer the watermark “Over the PDF content” or “Below the PDF content. " When you’re done, simply click on the Add watermark button. Note that page numbers will be automatically applied to each page. Now click on the Download PDF with watermark button to save a copy of your watermarked PDF. Mouse over the surrounding buttons to see a host of other cool things you can do with your watermarked PDF.
2. How to Add a Watermark to PDF Using PDF24 Tools
PDF24 Tools is a simple 24-in-1 PDF toolkit that allows you to edit, compress, convert, merge, split, sign and secure your documents, among others. Here’s how to add a watermark to PDFs using PDF24 Tools.
Go to PDF24 Tools and click on the Add watermark tool. Click on Choose files to upload your PDF. You can also do so via drag and drop. Click on the Text field to replace the placeholder text with your watermark text (images not supported). You can also adjust the font size to your taste, as well as the position, and spacing from the edges (vertical and horizontal). Click on the font drop-down menu to change the font type and font size. You can equally use the “Color and alpha” fields to adjust the color of your watermark text, and its transparency level. Click on the Angle field to alter its angle of orientation. Click the Add watermark button when done. Click Preview to see what your watermark looks like. Click Download if you’re satisfied, otherwise, click Restart to try again.
3. How to Add a Watermark to PDF Using Clever PDF
You can add watermark to PDFs using Clever PDF, a robust 44-in-1 PDF toolkit that allows you to create, edit, convert, unlock, split, combine, encrypt, and watermark your PDF files, among others.
Clever PDF is free and easy to use, and it doesn’t require you to sign up. Here’s how to add a watermark to a PDF file using Clever PDF.
Go to Clever PDF, scroll down the page and click on PDF watermark. Click on Choose file to upload your PDF file. You can also drag and drop your PDF or use Google Drive or Dropbox. Scroll down, select Text Watermark, and click on the Text field. Enter your watermark text (120 characters max) and use the Rotate drop-down menu to adjust the orientation. Similarly, you can also adjust the transparency, font type, and font size by clicking on their respective drop-down buttons. Click on Layout and choose whether to layer the watermark above or below the content. Click on Position to select where you want the watermark placed. When you’re done, go up again, click on Start conversion > Download. To add an image watermark, select Image Watermark, click on Please select a picture, and upload your image. The maximum file size allowed is 500KB. As with the text watermark, adjust your orientation, transparency, layout, and position, and click Start conversion when done. Wait for it to process, then click Download when completed.
You can also save your watermarked PDF to Google Drive or Dropbox. Note that unsaved files will be removed from Clever PDFservers after 30 minutes.
4. How to Add a Watermark to PDF Using FreePDFOnline
FreePDFOnline is another web resource that allows you to easily add a watermark to PDF, among 22 other PDF editing tools. It is also free to use without registering. To add a text watermark:
Go to FreePDFOnline, scroll down, and click on the Add Watermark tool. Under Upload File, click on Choose File and upload your PDF file. Set a password for the document if you want, otherwise, click on the Text field and enter your watermark text. You can select your font, font size, font color, rotation, and transparency as needed. You can also adjust the watermark’s location along the x-y coordinates by entering any value in the spaces provided. Leave the Page(s) field empty if you want to apply the watermark on all pages, otherwise, use the box to specify the pages you want it on. Click on Start when done. To add an image watermark, select Image under “Options”, click Choose File to upload the image, then follow the same steps described above. After processing, click on Download to access your watermarked PDF.
Protect Your PDFs With a Watermark
There’s so much you can do with a watermark, especially on a PDF file. When next you want to watermark your PDF files, feel free to use any of these free PDF watermark services.
You can use your logo, mascot, stamp, or other brandable materials to watermark your PDF. This will make your documents look more professional, plus hopefully control unauthorized access.
