What opacity should I use?

Low enough that every line of content under the mark stays readable, high enough that nobody misses it — for text marks the comfortable band is usually 20 to 40 percent. The real test is not the editor preview but the exported file: open it, zoom to 100 percent, and read the densest paragraph under the mark. If you hesitate anywhere, lower the opacity or move the mark; a watermark that buries a signature or a total creates the rework it was meant to prevent.

Text or image watermark — which one?

Text is the default for status and context: DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, FOR REVIEW ONLY render crisp at any zoom, weigh nothing, and read instantly. An image earns its place when the mark is a logo or brand element, typically on client deliverables and sample documents. If you use an image, prefer a transparent PNG so the mark sits on the page rather than inside a white box, and scale it modestly — a quiet repeated logo reads more professional than a giant one.

Does a watermark protect the document?

Not by itself. A visible overlay can be cropped, covered, or edited around by someone determined, so treat it as a clear signal of status and ownership rather than security. Its genuine value is preventing honest mistakes — a draft forwarded as final, a sample reused as a deliverable. When you need access control as well, add a password with the protect tool after watermarking, and send that password through a different channel than the file.

Watermark a PDF before it leaves you

A watermark answers a question every shared document eventually faces: what is this copy, and who was it for? DRAFT stops a work-in-progress from being forwarded as final. CONFIDENTIAL signals handling before anyone reads a word. A client or reviewer name marks whose copy wandered if the file turns up somewhere unexpected. PDFTasker's watermark tool places that mark in your browser: load the PDF, put text or an image directly on the page preview, drag it where it belongs, tune size, opacity, and rotation, and choose which pages carry it. The mark sits as an overlay, so the text underneath stays selectable and searchable — the practical risk is visual rather than structural, which is why opacity is the one control worth a few extra seconds of thought. Be honest about what a watermark is not: a determined editor can work around any visible overlay, so it is a communication tool, not protection. The combination that covers both is a watermark for status plus a password for access. Because everything runs locally, the unmarked original never leaves your device — useful, since the documents worth watermarking are usually the ones worth keeping private.

How-to guides

Step-by-step guides

01
Load the PDF
Open the watermark tool and add the file. The page preview renders locally in your browser.
02
Create the mark
Type the text — DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, a client name — or upload an image. A transparent PNG works best for logos.
03
Place and tune it
Drag the mark on the page, then set size, opacity, and rotation. Keep opacity moderate so the content stays readable.
04
Choose page scope and export
Apply to all pages, the first page, or a custom range, then download and check one exported page at full zoom.

Frequently asked questions

What opacity should I use?: Low enough that every line of content under the mark stays readable, high enough that nobody misses it — for text marks the comfortable band is usually 20 to 40 percent. The real test is not the editor preview but the exported file: open it, zoom to 100 percent, and read the densest paragraph under the mark. If you hesitate anywhere, lower the opacity or move the mark; a watermark that buries a signature or a total creates the rework it was meant to prevent.
Text or image watermark — which one?: Text is the default for status and context: DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, FOR REVIEW ONLY render crisp at any zoom, weigh nothing, and read instantly. An image earns its place when the mark is a logo or brand element, typically on client deliverables and sample documents. If you use an image, prefer a transparent PNG so the mark sits on the page rather than inside a white box, and scale it modestly — a quiet repeated logo reads more professional than a giant one.
Does a watermark protect the document?: Not by itself. A visible overlay can be cropped, covered, or edited around by someone determined, so treat it as a clear signal of status and ownership rather than security. Its genuine value is preventing honest mistakes — a draft forwarded as final, a sample reused as a deliverable. When you need access control as well, add a password with the protect tool after watermarking, and send that password through a different channel than the file.