How to add a watermark
- Drop an image, or click to browse. The watermark is drawn on the image at its full original resolution.
- Type your watermark text (the default is a copyright symbol followed by a name) and choose a position, size, opacity and color. The preview updates live.
- Pick an output format, or leave Keep original selected, then click Download. The file is saved with
watermarked-at the start of its name, and your original is untouched.
What the controls do
- Position — eight choices: the four corners, top center, bottom center, center, and Tiled. Tiled repeats the text across the whole image at a 30 degree upward angle.
- Size — from 2% to 14% of the image width, so the text scales with the photo. A 6000 pixel wide photo and a 1200 pixel wide copy of it get a watermark of the same relative size.
- Opacity — from 5% to 100% in steps of 5. The default is 50%.
- Color — any single color from the picker; the default is white.
- Output — keep the original format, or force JPG, PNG or WebP. Exports are saved at 92% quality for JPG and WebP.
This tool adds text only. It cannot place a logo image, and it does not offer a drop shadow or outline, so choose a color that stands out against the area it sits on.
Choosing placement and opacity
A watermark is a trade-off between protection and the viewing experience. A corner mark at 50% opacity is easy to ignore and easy to remove: anyone can crop a strip off the edge or paint over it. A mark in the center is much harder to remove but hides part of your subject. For most photographers the practical middle ground is the Tiled option at a low opacity (roughly 15% to 30%) for previews sent to clients, and a small, quiet corner mark for pictures published on a portfolio or social profile.
Contrast matters more than size. White text at 50% vanishes on a bright sky or white product background; black or a dark brand color works there. If the photo has both light and dark regions, the tiled layout guarantees the text crosses some area where it is readable. Set the size so the text is legible when the image is shrunk to a thumbnail: 5% to 8% of the width is a good starting range for corner marks.
Worked examples
- Client proofs. A wedding photographer sends a gallery of unedited previews. Use Tiled, size 6%, opacity 20%, text such as the studio name. The final, unmarked files are delivered after payment.
- Product photos on a marketplace. A seller worried about copied listings puts the shop name at the bottom center at 40% opacity, away from the product edges where it would affect the sale.
- Blog images. A blogger who publishes original charts adds a small web address in a corner at 60% opacity, so the source travels with any screenshot.
Limits to know about
- No watermark stops a determined person; it deters casual reuse and shows ownership. Do not publish full-resolution originals if you need real protection. Resize first with the image resizer.
- The watermark is baked into the pixels. There is no undo after download, so keep the original file.
- Metadata such as camera details and location is not edited by this tool. Use the EXIF remover if you also want those removed.
- Only one image is processed at a time. For PDFs, there is a separate PDF watermark tool.
Is it private and safe?
Yes. Toolyard adds the watermark inside your browser on your own device. Your image is never uploaded anywhere, and the tool adds no branding of its own. That makes it suitable for unreleased client work.
Related guides
For a longer walkthrough, read How to add a watermark to photos. To strip hidden location data from the same pictures, see How to remove EXIF data from photos, and to shrink files before posting, How to resize images for a faster website.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a watermark?
Drop an image, type your watermark text, and choose position, size, color and opacity. The preview updates as you change settings. Click Download to save a copy with the watermark applied.
Can I use a logo image as a watermark?
No. This tool adds text only. If you need a logo, a common workaround is to type your brand name or web address, or to add the logo in a graphics editor.
Which position is hardest to remove?
The Tiled option, which repeats your text across the whole image at an angle. A corner mark can be cropped away, but a tiled mark covers the entire picture, so removing it needs real retouching.
What opacity should I use?
Around 15% to 30% for tiled marks and 40% to 60% for a single corner mark are good starting points. Lower values keep the photo pleasant to look at; higher values are more visible but more distracting.
Will it reduce my image quality?
The photo is redrawn at its original pixel size, so nothing is resized. JPG and WebP files are saved at 92% quality, which is near visually lossless, but a JPG that was already compressed will be compressed once more. Choose PNG if you want to avoid any new loss.
Does the tool add its own watermark?
No. Only your text is added, and there is no Toolyard branding on the result.
Can I watermark many photos?
This version handles one image at a time. Drop the next image when you are done and reuse the same text and settings.
Are my images uploaded?
No. The watermark is applied entirely in your browser, and your image is never uploaded or stored anywhere.