A visible reminder, not DRM
Stamp DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL on a PDF
Before a proof leaves your desk, mark it so it does not wander off as final. This page starts with DRAFT across the middle; change the text to CONFIDENTIAL or a client name. Opacity, rotation, and page range stay in this browser. A watermark is not encryption. It is a stamp.
The PDF stays in this tab. The stamp is drawn locally and never uploaded.
No files yet. Drop them above. They stay in this tab and are never uploaded.
When to use this
Use this when a PDF is about to leave your hands as a proof, preview, or internal copy. DRAFT is filled in; change it to CONFIDENTIAL, SAMPLE, or a client name. Diagonal center is the usual look.
A watermark is a visible overlay. It does not encrypt the file or stop screenshots. Anyone with a PDF editor can try to cover it. Treat it as a reminder, not a lock.
Skip the cover with the page checklist if the title page should stay clean. For a logo instead of a word, switch to image on the Watermark PDF tool. Same page, image option.
How to do it
- Drop the PDF you want to mark as not-final.
- Keep or edit the DRAFT text. CONFIDENTIAL is the other common line.
- Leave center + 45° unless you want a footer stamp instead.
- Uncheck the cover if it should stay clean, then add the watermark and download.
Tips
- Opacity around 25-35% is readable without burying the body text.
- Merge chapters first, then stamp once, so every page gets the same mark.
- This is not redaction. Hidden text and metadata can still be in the file.
Questions
- Does a DRAFT watermark protect the file?
- No. It is a visible stamp. Use a password on your computer if you need access control.
- Can I watermark only some pages?
- Yes. Use All, Odd, Even, or uncheck pages. The download is a new PDF.
- Is the draft uploaded to stamp it?
- No. The overlay is drawn in this tab. Close it and the working copy is gone.