Add Watermark to Image
100% private — runs on your device, never uploaded. Works offline once loaded.
Protect your photos by adding a custom text watermark, with control over the text, position, size and opacity. Everything runs locally in your browser — no uploads.
How a text watermark actually gets applied
Adding a watermark is really just drawing a second layer of text or a logo directly onto the pixels of your image, then flattening the two into one file. The tool reads your source image onto an HTML canvas, renders your chosen text at a set font, size, colour and rotation, and merges it into the pixel data before exporting a new JPG or PNG. There is no separate 'watermark layer' saved anywhere — once you export, the text is baked permanently into the image, the same way it would be if you'd printed it and stamped it with ink.
Why photographers and sellers watermark images
A visible watermark is a low-effort deterrent, not an unbreakable lock. Wedding and event photographers stamp preview galleries with their studio name so clients can't screenshot and use unpaid proofs. Etsy and eBay sellers watermark product photos to stop competitors from lifting them for their own listings. Stock contributors add a diagonal repeating mark across the whole frame so even a cropped screenshot still carries attribution.
- Portfolio previews shared before a client has paid in full
- Product photos on marketplaces where image theft is common
- Social media posts you want traceable back to your account
- Internal drafts marked 'CONFIDENTIAL' or 'DRAFT' before wider circulation
Placement, opacity and readability trade-offs
A watermark that's too bold ruins the photo; one that's too faint gets cropped or cloned out in seconds. Corner placements at 40-60% opacity are the common middle ground — visible enough to discourage casual reuse without dominating the shot. For stronger protection against cropping, a diagonal watermark repeated across the centre of the frame is harder to remove without visibly damaging the image, though it's also more intrusive to look at.
A quick tip
If the photo has a lot of fine detail near the edges, place the watermark over a relatively flat, low-contrast area (sky, a plain wall, out-of-focus background) — the text stays legible and the image still reads clean from a normal viewing distance.
Frequently asked questions
Are my images uploaded?
No — the watermark is drawn on your device and your files never leave it.
Can I change where the watermark appears?
Yes — choose a corner or the centre, and set the size and opacity.
Will the watermark survive if someone crops the image?
A single corner watermark can be cropped out entirely. If theft is a real concern, use a larger, semi-transparent watermark placed near the centre or repeated across the frame.
Can I add a logo instead of text?
This tool is built for text watermarks with adjustable font, colour, size and rotation. For a logo overlay, you'd composite the two images with a layered image editor instead.
Does watermarking reduce the image quality?
No — the underlying photo pixels are untouched outside the watermarked area. Exporting as JPG will apply normal JPG compression, so choose PNG if you need a lossless result.
Can I remove a watermark later if I change my mind?
No. Once exported, the watermark is merged into the pixels permanently — keep your original, unwatermarked file if you might need it again.
Does this work on transparent PNGs?
Yes — the watermark is drawn on top of transparent areas too, so it stays visible even where the background is transparent.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No — the canvas rendering happens entirely in your browser tab, so the photo never leaves your device.
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