How to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator

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This wikiHow teaches you how to use Adobe Illustrator for Mac or Windows to create and place a watermark on an image. Although Illustrator doesn't have a built-in watermarking feature, you can use the typing tool to add a text watermark on top of any supported image file.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Creating a Watermark

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  1. Upon launching Adobe Illustrator, you'll have the option of selecting or creating a new document. Click Open , locate the file you want to edit, and then click Open.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's the T icon at the upper-right of the toolbar on the left side of the window.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    Doing so creates a text box that contains the text "Loren ipsum."
  4. Type anything you like, such as your name, URL, or company name.
    • Other common watermarks include "Sample," "Draft," or copyright notices.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's the black pointer in the upper-left part of the toolbar on the left side of the window.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    This selects the text as an object that you can edit.
    • You can adjust the font face, size, and color on the Properties panel, which is on the right side of the screen. The font information face and size settings are at the bottom of the panel under the "Character" heading.
    • If you'd like your watermark to appear at an angle, click on the Rotate Tool ("↺") in the left-center of the toolbar on the left side of the screen, then click and drag over your watermark to rotate it.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    To do this, click and drag the watermark text to the desired position.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    Locate the "Appearance" section of the Properties panel on the right side of the screen. To make your watermark less opaque, select 50% from the "Opacity" menu in this section. This makes the background image visible beneath your watermark.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's in the menu bar at the top of the window.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's near the top of the menu.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    Your watermark is now the topmost object in the layer.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Locking the Watermark

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's in the menu bar at the top of the window.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's at the top of the menu. This selects all objects on the image.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's in the menu bar at the top of the window.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's near the top of the menu. Another menu will expand.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    The watermark is now "locked" in place on top of the image.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Saving the Watermarked Image

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's near the bottom of the menu. Another menu will appear.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's the second option in the menu. This opens your computer's Save As dialog box.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    This goes into the "File name" field near the bottom of the window.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    You can save the file in any of the available file types. If the image will be used on the internet, choose a common file type like JPG or PNG.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    It's the button at the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Create a Watermark in Adobe Illustrator
    Depending on the file type you chose, you may be asked to choose other properties for the file, such as the resolution and/or quality level. Make your selections if desired, and then click OK to confirm.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What do I save it as and how do I place it in a video?
    Community Answer
    You save it as .png to keep transparency on. If you are using After Effects, you are free to place your .png image to your project column and then place it on your video canvas where you can transform it freely.
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  • Question
    I want to create a watermark for someone. Once I've finished it, she will apply it in photoshop. How should I save it to send it to her?
    Community Answer
    Export it as a JPEG, TIFF, PNG or EPS file.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the image.
      2. Type your watermark.
      3. Move the watermark to the desired location.
      4. Adjust the opacity to 50%.
      5. Bring the watermark object to the front.
      6. Lock the objects into place.
      7. Export the image.

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