{"id":1805,"date":"2019-11-07T22:09:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T22:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digify.dxpsites.com\/?p=1805"},"modified":"2026-02-27T06:35:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T06:35:33","slug":"pdf-document-watermarking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-x.digifyteam.com\/id\/blog\/pdf-document-watermarking\/","title":{"rendered":"PDF & document watermarking: How to add watermarks online"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Did you know that watermarking is one of the earliest forms of document security?<\/p>\n

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Some of the first known examples are thought to trace back to Italian paper makers who embossed their paper with a Greek cross symbol. These early watermarks often had some kind of religious significance, but Renaissance paper houses soon recognized that these symbols acted as a trademark for their businesses.<\/p>\n

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Today, we still watermark our documents, either digitally or printed, in an effort to identify the document owner, classify the document or maintain some level of traceability. There are various ways to watermark a document from a simple one word text that says \u201cConfidential\u201d, to more customized information that include the name and email address of the document recipient. <\/p>\n

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A common and effective use of watermarking is seen with images. A quick browse of stock image sites or photography blogs will show that most of the displayed photos have the photographer\u2019s name or the company\u2019s logo as a watermark. In most cases, the only way to have the original image is to purchase it from the owner.  There are multiple reasons why you might need to watermark your own PDF files, documents or images, so let\u2019s take a closer look:<\/p>\n

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Why should you watermark your PDF files?<\/h2>\n

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Watermarking remains one of the most effective ways to protect<\/strong> PDF files and documents<\/a> which contain confidential, sensitive or proprietary information. Why is this considered to be protection? Well, even if the document was sent without your permission, the watermark still identifies you as the owner, and you can also identify where your \u201cleak\u201d came from. For any intellectual property such as photographs, designs or blueprints, it is even more essential to claim ownership by inserting a watermark that cannot be easily removed by anyone else. <\/p>\n

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On the most basic level, a watermark could also be a way to classify your documents<\/strong>. It can be a reminder to your recipients to store and treat the document with care. For example, for a document that is labelled as \u201cConfidential\u201d, recipients might be more conscious of locking their viewing device when they walk away from it. At the very least, it\u2019s a way of communicating; \u201chey, this document needs to be handled with care.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A watermark can act as a means to track the spread of your files,<\/strong> and as an effective deterrent<\/strong> for people who might disseminate your  information. If each document is watermarked with the recipient\u2019s name and email, it becomes easier to track the source of the leak. The recipient would think twice before forwarding a file which is labelled  with their own name, email address or other identifier.<\/p>\n

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How to watermark a PDF file<\/h2>\n

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A quick Google search of \u201chow to watermark a (file type)\u201d will show a multitude of sites offering free watermarking for various types of files. There are a few pros and cons to be aware of when you\u2019re looking at these software options.<\/p>\n

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