// guide · Beginner · 5 min read
How to watermark a PDF in your browser
Stamp a PDF with the recipient, purpose, and expiry date, pick a style, check the live preview, and download. No upload, no account.
Open the watermark tool →Before you start
You need a PDF, PNG, or JPG and a modern browser. There's no sign-up. The file is read into memory on your device and processed there, so nothing is uploaded to a server.
By the end of this guide you'll have a copy of your document stamped with who it's for, why they have it, and when that access ends.
Step 1: Upload your document
Drag your file onto the Drop your document here area, or click it to pick a file. Once the file name appears, click Continue →.
Step 2: Say who it's for
Fill in the fields at the top of the configuration screen. All of them are optional.
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Recipient / name | Printed as FOR: JANE DOE. Also used in the footer line and tracking layers. |
| Organization | Recorded in the tracking layers and the audit report. |
| Valid until | Printed as UNTIL: 2026-12-31. A visual reminder; it doesn't lock the file. |
| Purpose | Pick one, like Review Only or Under NDA. Printed first, in capitals. |
| Custom text | Replaces the generated text entirely (up to 80 characters). |
With no custom text, the watermark is built from those fields in this order, separated by |:
UNDER NDA | FOR: JANE DOE | UNTIL: 2026-12-31
Leave everything blank and it falls back to CONFIDENTIAL.
Step 3: Pick a style
Choose up to two styles under Watermark style. Combining a visible deterrent with a QR code is a common pairing.
| Style | Looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | One large, translucent line across the middle of each page | The classic "do not share" look |
| Corner | Small text in the top-right corner | Documents that must stay easy to read |
| Banner | A dark strip across the top of each page | Clear labelling without covering content |
| Tiled | A 3×3 grid of small, faint diagonal text | Making cropping and screenshots harder |
| QR stamp | A scannable code in the bottom-right corner | Letting anyone verify a copy's origin |
| Diag + QR | Diagonal text plus the QR stamp | Deterrence and verification in one pick |
To redact or sign without a visible stamp, uncheck every style. A small footer line with the tracking ID is still added to each page.
Step 4: Set the font and color
Under Watermark Font, choose Helvetica, Courier, or Times Roman. Under Watermark Color, pick a preset or use the color picker for your brand color.
Step 5: Check the live preview
Scroll through Live preview to see every page with your watermark on top. It updates as you type, so adjust the text, style, and color until nothing important is covered.
Want a signature on the page? Type a name into Type Signature (Optional). It appears on the first page of the preview in a handwritten font. Drag it to where it belongs.
Need to hide something too? Use the Redact toolbar above the preview: Select text to black out words by dragging across them, or Draw box for images and signatures.
Step 6: Process and download
Click Continue → at the bottom of the page. Processing usually takes a few seconds. When it's done you can:
- ⬇ Download PDF saves the file as
yourfile_protected.pdf. - 🖨 Print opens the print dialog with the watermarked copy.
- 📋 Audit report saves a JSON record of what was applied and to whom.
If something looks off, ← Back to edit keeps all your settings so you can tweak and run it again.
Quick checklist
- Recipient and purpose filled in, or a clear custom text
- One or two styles that don't cover key figures or signatures
- Preview checked on every page, not just the first
- Audit report saved somewhere you'll find it later
Sending the same file to several people? The next guide shows how to give each copy its own identity, so you can tell exactly whose copy leaked.
Next guide
Per-recipient watermarks: trace who leaked a PDF
Send the same document to several people, give each copy its own forensic ID, QR code, and hidden layers, then identify the source of a leaked copy.
Try it
Open the watermark tool →
Everything runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.