How to add a simple watermark to a photo

You want to put your name, business name, or website on a photo before sharing it. A small text watermark can identify the image without covering the subject.

You can add one with the text and layer features in the Photo Editor. Make a copy of your photo first, then adjust the wording, size, color, and position before exporting.

Add a text watermark

1. Open the Photo Editor and open the photo you want to mark. Keep the original file unchanged so you can start over if needed.
2. Use the text feature to add a text layer. Enter a short name, website address, or copyright notice. A brief watermark is easier to read and less likely to distract from the image.
3. Move the text to a suitable place on the photo. A lower corner is a common choice, but keep the text far enough from the edge that it will not disappear if the image is cropped.
4. Adjust the text size and color using the text controls. Check that the words are readable against the part of the image behind them, but not so large that they become the main subject.
5. Review the full photo, then use the editor's save or export option to create the marked version. Keep the original as a separate file.

The photo and your edits stay on your device while you use the browser editor. Exporting a new version lets you share the marked image without overwriting the original file.

Choose a watermark that fits the photo

Use a short name or website

A name or web address is usually enough to identify who made or published a photo. Long sentences take up more space and can be difficult to read when someone views the picture on a phone. If you use a website address, check it carefully before exporting.

Pick a position that does not hide important details

Look for a quiet area of the photo, such as a patch of sky, a plain wall, or an uncluttered corner. Avoid placing words over a face, product detail, or other part a viewer needs to see. A corner placement is discreet, but a watermark there can be cropped out easily.

Make the text easy to see

Choose a color that contrasts with the background. Light text can work on a dark area, while dark text is easier to see on a pale area. If the photo changes from light to dark behind the text, try a different position. Zoom out to the size people are likely to view, since text that looks large while editing may be hard to read in the finished image.

Balance visibility and appearance

A watermark should be noticeable enough to identify the image, but it should not compete with the subject. Start with modest text and increase its size only if it is hard to read. There is no single ideal size: a watermark on a small social image needs less space than one on a large photograph.

Fix common watermark problems

1. Move the text to a clearer area. If the words blend into the photo, place them over a simpler part of the image. Try another corner or a plain area before making the text much larger.
2. Change the text color. Choose a lighter or darker color to make the words stand out against the background. Check the entire word, not just its first letter, for areas where it becomes difficult to read.
3. Shorten the wording. Remove extra words if the watermark takes up too much space. A name or short website address is often more readable than a full sentence.
4. Reduce the size if it distracts from the subject. A watermark that draws your eye before the photo does is probably too large. Keep it readable at normal viewing size, not necessarily at a close zoom.
5. Reopen the original if you need a clean start. If you have moved or changed the text repeatedly, start again from the untouched photo rather than saving over it. This also helps if you exported a version with the watermark in the wrong place.

What happens when you export

While you are editing, text is a separate layer from the photo, so you can reposition or change it without repainting the image. The exported image combines the visible text and photo into one finished picture. After that, the text usually cannot be edited like a separate layer in that exported file. Keep the editable version, if you want to make changes later, and save a clean copy of the original.

A watermark can help identify a photo, but it cannot prevent someone from copying or cropping the image. Keep the original files and use the watermark as a visible credit, not as a guarantee of protection.