Watermark

A watermark is a faint, semi-transparent version of a logo placed over images or documents to indicate ownership, prevent unauthorised use, or provide attribution. In the physical world, watermarks are embedded into paper during manufacture and are visible when the paper is held to the light — banknotes and security documents use physical watermarks as anti-counterfeiting measures. In digital design, watermarks are typically created by reducing the opacity of the logo to 20–40% and placing it over an image or document. Watermarks are commonly used by photographers and designers to protect their work when sharing previews online, by stock image libraries on preview images, and on draft documents to prevent them being used before final versions are approved. In brand identity, watermarks are also used as a design element — a faint brand pattern or large-scale logo shape applied subtly to document backgrounds to reinforce brand presence.