Why add a watermark to your images?
A watermark is a visible overlay — typically text or a logo — applied directly to an image to identify its source, protect copyright, or prevent unauthorized use. Watermarks are used by photographers, designers, content creators, businesses, and anyone sharing images online who wants to associate their work with their name or brand.
The most common use cases are copyright protection, where a © Name / Year watermark deters people from claiming your work as their own; proof images sent to clients before final payment; confidential document scans marked "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL"; and branded marketing images where the business name or website URL is embedded so viewers know where to find the source.
Unlike metadata (which is stripped when images are shared on social media), a visible watermark is permanently embedded in the pixels. It travels with the image regardless of how it is re-shared, downloaded, or re-posted.
How to add a watermark to an image online
- Drop your files — drag JPG, PNG, or WEBP images onto the upload zone, or click to browse. Up to 30 files at once.
- Enter your watermark text — type your name, copyright notice, website URL, or any text (e.g. © 2026 Your Name or pixtools.app).
- Set font size and opacity — use the sliders to control how large and how visible the watermark is. A lower opacity (30–50%) creates a subtle overlay; higher opacity (70–100%) makes it clearly readable.
- Choose a color — pick white, black, gray, or yellow from the presets, or choose any custom color with the color picker.
- Set the position — click a cell in the 3×3 position grid to place the watermark in any corner, edge, or the center. Enable Tile to repeat it diagonally across the whole image.
- Click Add Watermark and download — each file is processed in your browser. Download individually or as a ZIP.
Choosing the right watermark position
Position affects both the visibility and the protection level of your watermark:
- Bottom-right — the most common position for photographer and designer watermarks. It is clearly visible on most images without obscuring the main subject. Easy to spot but also the easiest position to crop out if someone tries to remove it.
- Center with reduced opacity — used for proof images and stock previews. Placing the watermark over the center of the image makes it impossible to crop out while still allowing the content to be evaluated. A 30–50% opacity preserves visibility while keeping the image usable as a preview.
- Tile (repeat) — the most robust protection. The watermark repeats diagonally across every part of the image, so no portion can be cropped to a watermark-free version. Used for confidential documents, legal exhibits, and high-value proof images.
- Bottom-center — works well for wide landscape photos where the corners may be dark or busy. The center bottom is consistently visible across different aspect ratios.
Watermark color and contrast
The right color depends on the background content of your images:
- White — works well on dark or colorful images (outdoor photography, dark product shots, nighttime scenes). Default for most photography watermarks.
- Black — better for light or white backgrounds (product shots on white, document scans, screenshots). Invisible on dark images.
- Gray — a neutral option that works reasonably on both light and dark backgrounds, though with less contrast than white or black on either extreme.
- Custom color — use your brand color for consistent branding across all images. Yellow or gold tones are popular for high-visibility branding watermarks.
If you are watermarking a batch of images with varying backgrounds, white at 60–70% opacity is the most universally readable option.
Watermarking photos for social media
Instagram and Pinterest
Both platforms re-compress uploaded images and strip EXIF metadata, but they do not alter the visible pixel content. A watermark embedded in the pixels will survive the upload. For Instagram, bottom-center or bottom-right watermarks stay visible on both square and portrait crops. Use Image Resizer to size images to the correct dimensions first, then add a watermark before uploading.
Stock photography and client proofs
When sending proof images to clients or submitting previews to stock sites, use center placement with 40–60% opacity. The image remains evaluable but cannot be used without purchasing the final version. For stock site submissions, check the platform's specific watermark guidelines — some require watermarks in specific areas or prohibit them on certain submission types.
E-commerce product images
Most e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Shopify, Etsy) prohibit watermarks on product listing images. Use watermarks on images shared for marketing, in blog posts, or on social media — but remove them before uploading to the product listing itself. If you need to resize the images as well, use the Image Resizer after watermarking.
Watermarking for copyright protection
A visible watermark is a practical deterrent, not a legal guarantee. Here is what watermarks do and do not provide:
- What they do — make it clear the image is owned, identify the creator, and deter casual copying. A watermark is often enough to prevent accidental misuse (someone saving an image thinking it is free to use).
- What they do not do — watermarks can be removed with image editing software or AI inpainting tools. They are not a substitute for registering your copyright (in jurisdictions that have a registration system) or for using a properly licensed stock agreement.
- Best practice — combine a visible watermark with keeping your original high-resolution files. If an infringement dispute arises, the original unmodified file with full metadata is your primary evidence; the watermark is just a public notice.
Batch watermarking images
Drop up to 30 files at once and apply the same watermark to all of them with a single click. This is useful for:
- Watermarking an entire photo shoot before sharing a gallery with a client
- Adding your brand name to a set of product images before posting to social media
- Marking all images in a document or report as "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL"
- Preparing a portfolio batch with your website URL before submitting to directories
If you need to compress the images after watermarking to reduce file size for web publishing, run them through the Image Compressor.
Privacy
Every byte stays in your browser. Watermark processing runs locally using the Canvas API — your files never leave your device. There is no upload step, no temporary server copy, and no account required. You can use this tool entirely offline once the page has loaded.