WD2000: How to Create a Watermark

ID: Q211324

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 2000

SUMMARY

This article describes various ways to create a watermark in Microsoft Word 2000. A watermark, as defined in this article, is any text or graphic image that is printed to overlap existing text in a document, either in the background or foreground. For example, a logo printed lightly behind a letter or the word "Confidential" printed lightly on a contract might be considered a watermark. Some of the most commonly used text-type watermarks are:

  • Confidential


  • Paid


  • Draft


The three methods in this article show how to create a watermark using the following features:
  • Drawing features


  • A text box


  • WordArt


With all three methods in this article, to print a watermark on every page of a document, insert the watermark into a header or footer. To print a watermark on just one page of a document, place your insertion point in the body of the document where you want it printed and then use one of the methods described in this article.

To view a watermark as it will appear on the printed page, click Print Layout on the View menu or click Print Preview on the File menu.

To format graphics properties or attributes as used throughout this document, see the "How to Format a Graphic Image's Properties" section of this article.

If the watermark interferes with the legibility of the text on the page, you can lighten the object you used to create the watermark. See the "How to Lighten the Watermark Color" section of this article.

Use the following information to determine the best method for creating your watermark:
  • Use "Method 1: Use the Drawing Features" if you are inserting a graphic image or picture.


  • Use "Method 2: Use a Text Box" if you want to use text as your watermark with no or limited rotational ability.


  • Use "Method 3: Use WordArt" if you want to use text as your watermark and you want to be able to rotate that text at any angle of rotation. This is the only method that allows full rotation of text.



MORE INFORMATION

Method 1: Use the Drawing Features

This method is an example of placing the watermark in the Header and Footer area so that it prints on all pages. To print a watermark only on the current page, start with step 3.
  1. On the View menu, click Header and Footer.


  2. Click the Show/Hide Document Text button on the Header and Footer toolbar. The text and graphics are now hidden from view.


  3. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, click Clip Art or From File, select your graphic image, and then click Insert.


  4. Select the picture, and then click Picture or Object on the Format menu.


  5. Click the Picture tab.


  6. In the Color list in the Image control section, select Watermark.


  7. Change any other options such as brightness or contrast if you want.


  8. Click the Layout tab. In the Wrapping style section, click Behind text, and then click OK.


  9. Position and size the watermark by dragging it to the location you want in the document.


  10. If you placed the graphic image in the header or footer, click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar.

    NOTE: After the object has been sent behind the text, to select that object at a future time, click the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar and then click in the area of the object.


Method 2: Use a Text Box

To use a text box to create a watermark, follow these steps:
  1. Position the insertion point on the page where you want the watermark to be placed. If you want the watermark to appear on every page in the document or that section, position the insertion point in the header by clicking Header and Footer on the View menu.


  2. On the Insert menu, click Text Box.


  3. Click and drag the pointer to specify the size of the text box needed for the text or graphic image you will use.


  4. Type the watermark text.


  5. To rotate the text, select the text inside the text box, and then click Change Text Direction on the Text Box toolbar until the text is rotated the way you want.

    NOTE: This rotation method is limited to three positions. To have complete rotation flexibility, you need to use WordArt. For details about how to do this, see the "How to Create Rotated Watermark Text" section of this article.


  6. To enlarge the font size and lighten the font color, follow these steps:


    1. Select the text inside the text box.


    2. On the Format menu, click Font.


    3. Under Size, change it to the appropriate size.


    4. Under Color, select Gray--25%.


    5. Click OK.


  7. To move the text box, select the border and drag it to its new location. To resize the text box, select the border, and then drag one of the sizing handles. You can also move or resize the text box with specific measurements by clicking Text Box on the Format menu.


  8. If the text box was placed into the header or footer, click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar. If the text box was placed on a page of your document, to move the text box and its contents behind the text in the document, follow these steps:


  1. Select the text box.


  2. Right-click the text box border. Then point to Order on the menu that appears, and click Send to back.

    NOTE: After the object has been sent behind the text, to select that object at a future time, click the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar and then click in the area of the object.


Method 3: Use WordArt

  1. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click WordArt.


  2. Select a WordArt Style and click OK.


  3. In the Enter Your Text Here box, type the watermark text and then click OK.


  4. Position and size the WordArt object by sizing and dragging it to the location you want.


  5. If the WordArt object was placed into the header or footer, click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar. If the WordArt object was placed on a page of your document, to move the WordArt object behind the text in the document, follow these steps:


    1. Select the WordArt object.


    2. Point to the WordArt object, and right-click. Point to Order on the menu that appears, and then click Send to back.

      NOTE: After the object has been sent behind the text, to select that object at a future time, click the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar and then click in the area of the object.


    How to Create Rotated Watermark Text

    You must use a WordArt object if you want to rotate text at any angle. For details about how to insert a WordArt object, see the "Method 3: Use WordArt" section of this article.

    After the WordArt object is in your document, to rotate text at any angle, follow these steps:

    1. Select the WordArt object. You should now see the WordArt toolbar.

      NOTE: If the WordArt toolbar does not appear, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and then click to select WordArt.


    2. On the WordArt toolbar, click the Free Rotate button.

      NOTE: Your pointer turns into an arrow with a circular arrow, and the four corners of your WordArt object turn into green round circles.


    3. Move the pointer to one of the corners, and then click and drag to rotate to the position you want.


    4. Click anywhere in the document when you are done. The pointer returns to normal.


    How to Lighten the Watermark Color

    If the watermark interferes with the legibility of the text on the page, use one of the following methods to lighten it.

    Method 1: Text Not in a WordArt or Drawing Object

    1. Select the text.


    2. On the Format menu, click Font, change the Color option to Gray-25%, and then click OK.


    Method 2: Text in a Drawing or WordArt Object

    1. Select the object.


    2. On the Format menu, click AutoShape, Text Box, or WordArt, and then click the Colors and Lines tab.


    3. In the Color list in the Fill section, select Gray-25% and then click OK.


    NOTE: The result of this method may vary, depending on what options you chose when the object was created.

    Method 3: Imported Graphics

    You may not be able to edit the graphic image, depending on where it was created. In this case, you need to use a graphics program to alter the color of the graphic.

    Depending on the imported graphic, it may be lightened using the Picture Editor by doing the following:

    1. Double-click the picture.


    2. If possible, use the Drawing toolbar to change the attributes. If you are unable to change the attributes here, you need to use another graphics program to make the changes.


    How to Format a Graphic Image's Properties

    To format the graphic image, select it, and then click Picture or Object on the Format menu. Then, to adjust the picture's format, do any of the following:

    • To format the picture with preset brightness and contrast settings that work well for watermarks, do the following:


      • On the Picture tab, in the Image control section, select Watermark from the Color box.

      -or-

      Adjust the picture's brightness and contrast manually by using the Brightness and Contrast slide controls.
    • To format the graphic image so that the document text flows above it instead of around it, do the following:


      • On the Layout tab, in the Wrapping style section, click In-line with text, Square, or Tight.
    • To format the text in the text box, do the following:


      • Select the text, click Font on the Format menu, and then select the options you want. To rotate the text, click Text Direction on the Format menu, and then select the option you want.

      NOTE: This rotation method is limited to three rotational positions. To have complete rotation flexibility, you need to use WordArt. For details on how to do this, see the "How to Create Rotated Watermark Text" section of this article.
    • To format the text object's borders, background color, and so on, do the following:


      • Use the options on the Drawing toolbar (the text box is a drawing object).

Additional query words: watermarking watermarks water mark overlay overlapping

Keywords : kbdta kblayout wd2000
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: October 11, 1999
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