Watermarks

Word's watermark feature enables you to include an image or text in the background of each document page.

For example, you can insert a faded image of your company logo on all letters you write (Figure 37) or display the word DRAFT on each page of a draft document (Figure 38).

Figure 37. Word enables you to create watermarks using images...

Figure 38. ...or text.

Watermarks, when used properly, can make your documents look more polished or professional. They can also provide additional information to document readers.

Tip

• Watermarks only appear onscreen in Page Layout view and Print Preview. You cannot see watermarks onscreen in Normal view.

To insert a picture watermark

1.	Choose Insert > Watermark (Figure 39). Figure 39. Choose Watermark from the Insert menu.
2.	In the Insert Watermark dialog that appears, select the Picture radio button (Figure 40). Figure 40. Select the Picture radio button in the Insert Watermark dialog.
3.	Click the Select Picture button.
4.	Use the Choose a Picture dialog that appears (Figure 41) to locate and select the picture you want to use as a watermark. Click Insert. Figure 41. The Choose a Picture dialog. The image you selected appears in the preview area (Figure 42). Figure 42. The Preview area shows what the watermark will look like with sample text over it.
5.	Toggle the Washout check box to adjust the intensity of the image.
6.	To manually set the image size, enter a value in the Scale box.
7.	Click OK. The watermark appears on every page of the document (Figure 37).

Tip

• Although an image might be easier to see with Washout turned off (Figures 37 and 42), text may be difficult to read through the image.

To insert a text watermark

1.	Choose Insert > Watermark (Figure 39).
2.	In the Insert Watermark dialog that appears, select the Text radio button (Figure 43). Figure 43. Select the Text button in the Insert Watermark dialog.
3.	Choose an option from the drop-down list at the top of the text area (Figure 44). Figure 44. Choose one of the predefined text watermarks from a drop-down list. or Enter the text you want to display as the watermark in the box.
4.	Set Font, Size, and other formatting options as desired. The preview area changes accordingly (Figure 45). Figure 45. The Preview area shows you what the watermark will look like.
5.	Click OK. The watermark appears on every page of the document (Figure 38).

Tip

• Use the Transparency slider in the Insert Watermark dialog (Figure 43) to adjust the darkness of the text. The lighter the watermark text, the easier the document text will be to read.