Add or Remove Watermarks Like DRAFT or a Picture in Microsoft Word
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated January 10, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)
You can insert a watermark in the background of one or more pages in a Microsoft Word document. Common watermarks are text such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL but you can also add a picture watermark. Watermarks typically appear faded or in grey in the background behind text. Technically, watermarks are WordArt or images inserted into a header. Therefore, they can be displayed in different sections in a document. You can remove a watermark using the Watermark drop-down menu.
Recommended article: How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word (Words, Lines and Paragraphs)
For 2010 users, Watermark appears on the Page Layout tab in the Ribbon.
Inserting a text watermark (like DRAFT)
There are several default text watermarks available in Word.
They include:
- DRAFT
- CONFIDENTIAL
- SAMPLE
- DO NOT COPY
You can also type custom text and use it as a watermark.
To add a default text watermark in Word:
- Click in the Word document. If you are using sections, click in the section in which you want to insert the watermark.
- Click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Page Background group, click Watermark. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click the watermark you want to use.
The Watermark gallery displays the following default options:
To add a custom text watermark in Word:
- Click in the Word document. If you are using sections, click in the section in which you want to insert the watermark.
- Click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Page Background group, click Watermark. A drop-down menu appears.
- Click Custom Watermark. A dialog box appears.
- Click Text Watermark.
- Beside Text, type the text you want to use.
- If necessary, select options for Font, Size and / or Color.
- Check or uncheck Semitransparent (it is typically checked).
- Beside Layout, select Horizontal or Diagonal.
- Click OK.
In the Watermark dialog box, you can select text options as follows:
Inserting a picture watermark
You can insert a picture watermark to appear in the background of pages as well. A common picture watermark is a company logo.
To add a picture watermark from a file in Word:
- Click in the Word document. If you are using sections, click in the section in which you want to insert the watermark.
- Click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Page Background group, click Watermark. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select Custom Watermark. A dialog box appears.
- Click Picture Watermark.
- Click Select Picture. A dialog box appears.
- If necessary, click From a File.
- Navigate to the location of the picture and double-click it (or click the picture and click Insert).
- In the Watermark dialog box, select a Scale option if desired.
- Check or uncheck Washout (it is typically checked).
- Click OK.
In the Watermark dialog box, you can select a picture to use as a watermark as follows:
Removing a watermark
To remove a watermark:
- Click in the Word document. If you are using sections, click in the section with the watermark you want to remove.
- Click the Design tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Page Background group, click Watermark. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select Remove watermark.
Watermarks can be useful in many scenarios, particularly when a document is a draft.
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