Top 2 Ways to Add Watermark in a Microsoft Word Document

The watermark of a document makes it difficult for others to duplicate or use the copy without permission. It is a logo or subtle text that sits in the background of a document. You should add a watermark to a Word document to ensure that no one replicates it without explicit permission.

Using a watermark also adds context and shows the importance of the document. Plus, you don’t need any special software to create a watermark and then add it to your document. We are going to show you how to add watermark in Microsoft Word.

Why use a watermark on a document

Whether you’re sharing a business proposal or a new customer pitch with someone, it makes sense to place a watermark to show how important this document is. Some professions require a watermark on documents to prevent unwarranted use. You can use a watermark to add a creative touch to your documents.

Microsoft Word has a lot of features and there are a few tips you can use to increase your productivity. One of these built-in features allows you to add watermark in Word to your documents.

A simple example would be that a student could use the watermark option to prevent their work from being copied by others.

The methods below will demonstrate how to apply watermarks to the whole document or to a single page.

1. Using the default watermark option

The first method is to use the default watermark options that Microsoft Word provides to its users. This method applies a watermark to the entire document, which may well be a commonly used scenario for most users.

To note: We use Microsoft Word 2013 for the steps, which remain the same for all modern versions of MS Word.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on your PC and select a new or existing document.

2nd step: In the toolbar at the top, click on the Design tab and select the Watermark option.

Step 3: A bunch of default watermark styles will be displayed, such as Do Not Copy, Confidential, Draft, and Urgent. Click on one of the options according to your preferences.

Step 4: For our case, we will choose the confidential watermark by default. Just click on the watermark and it will be applied to all pages of the Microsoft Word document.

You can also add custom image or text watermark on Microsoft Word document. All you need to do is click on the Custom Watermark option.

A new window titled Printed Watermark will open. From there, you can choose to upload an image or enter the text to use it as a watermark.

Microsoft Word users can further refine the watermark by changing the font, size, color, layout, make it semi-transparent, etc.

2. Using the WordArt or Image option

This method allows the user to apply a watermark on a single page. If you want to share a document with exclusive information available to you, this method can be useful.

There are two options for adding watermark on a single page. You can go for the WordArt option or the Image option, both of which have been discussed below.

Using WordArt

Step 1: In the menu bar, select the Insert option and select WordArt.

2nd step: Choose the style you want from the list of options that appear.

Step 3: Now type the text you want to create as watermark. Moreover, you can select the font, style, text size, etc. according to your preferences.

Step 5: Select the option to be placed behind the text from the floating menu called Layout Options. This will place the created WordArt behind the body of the document.

Step 6: Use the anchor above the WordArt text box to rotate the text.

Step 7: To get the authentic look of a watermark, you need to right click on the WordArt text and select the Format Shape option.

Step 8: A new sidebar on the right will open. Select the Text Options tab and choose the text and fill outline. Just use the Transparency slider to set the opacity of WordArt.

Image usage

Step 1: To insert an image as a watermark, select Insert from the top menu and choose the Image option.

2nd step: Press the Layout Options button and select the skin behind the text option.

Step 3: Rotate the text, place it where you want it to be placed. To format the image, click on the top menu bar and click on the Format tab. Select the Color option and according to your taste, select the effect to apply to the image.

Use watermark for private and professional work

Using any of the methods mentioned above, users can add professional touch to their documents, or you can also use watermark option for personal use.