Sending a proposal without a DRAFT watermark risks the client forwarding it as final. A contract without CONFIDENTIAL stamp gets printed and left on a desk. Watermark PDF prevents both — in 10 seconds.
⚡ Quick Add
ToolsLead — Watermark PDF → Upload PDF → Text “DRAFT” or Image logo → Opacity 20% → Diagonal → Apply to all pages → Download.
Why Watermark Before Sharing
- Draft control: Recipient knows not to forward or print as final.
- Confidentiality: “CONFIDENTIAL — Do Not Distribute” deters casual sharing.
- Branding: Subtle logo watermark brands proposals without a cover letter.
- Copy deterrent: Tiled watermark makes clean photocopy harder.
Text Watermark: DRAFT / CONFIDENTIAL
- Open Watermark PDF → Upload.
- Choose Text → Type DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, SAMPLE, or “© 2026 YourCompany”.
- Set Font bold 36pt, Color #9CA3AF (gray) or #EF4444 (red for confidential), Opacity 20%, Rotation 45° diagonal, Position Center.
- Preview → Apply to all pages → Download.
Image Watermark: Logo Branding
- Choose Image → Upload PNG with transparent background (best) — 500x500px ideal.
- Scale 25–35% of page width, Opacity 12% for subtle, Center position.
- For sample catalogs, enable Tile — logo repeats in grid, prevents cropping.
Opacity, Rotation & Tile Explained
| Use | Opacity | Rotation | Tile? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAFT for review | 22–25% | 45° diagonal | No |
| CONFIDENTIAL | 18% red | 45° diagonal | No |
| Brand logo (subtle) | 10–15% | 0° center | No |
| Sample to prevent copying | 15% | 30° | Yes — grid |
Workflow: Draft → Final
Always keep original. Watermark a copy. After approval, share original without watermark. Don’t try to “remove watermark” from a watermarked PDF — re-export clean.
Flow: Word → Word to PDF → Watermark DRAFT → Share → After approval → Share original PDF + Protect PDF if confidential.