WD: How to Create a Watermark in Word

ID: Q95277

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a, 5.1, 5.1a, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SUMMARY

This article describes various methods you can use to create a watermark in Microsoft Word. A watermark, as defined in this article, is any text or graphic 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 watermarks are:

  • Confidential


  • Paid


  • Draft


The four methods listed here are just a few examples of how you can create a watermark in Word.

  • Use a text box (Word 6.0 and later)


  • Use the Watermark macro from the Supplemental Macros Application Note (Word 6.0 for Windows and later)


  • Use the Watermark macro from NEWMACRO.DOC (Word 2.0 only; for PostScript printers only)


  • Set absolute margins and place watermark in the Header/Footer (Word 2.0 for Windows and later and Word 5.0 for Macintosh and later)



MORE INFORMATION

Use the any of the following methods to create a watermark.

Method 1 (Word 6.0 and later): Use a Text Box

  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 choosing Header and Footer from the View menu.


  2. On the View menu, click Toolbars.


  3. Select the Drawing toolbar and click OK.

    The drawing toolbar should appear below your Word document.


  4. Click the Text Box button (sixth button from the left) on the Drawing toolbar.


  5. Click and drag the mouse pointer to specify the size of the text box needed for the text or graphic you'll be using.


  6. Insert a graphic by choosing Picture from the Insert menu, or type the watermark text.

    Note: To rotate the text, you need to use WordArt. For details of how to do this, see the "How to Create Rotated Watermark Text" section of this article.

    Note: If you need to enlarge the font, select the text and change the point size to approximately 72 pts.


  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 choosing Drawing Object from the Format menu.


Method 2 (Word 6.x): Use the Watermark Macro

This macro is available in the Supplemental Macros Application Note.

The Watermark macro prompts you with a dialog box that asks you to enter the text or graphic. It then inserts the text or graphic into a text box that is placed in the current section's header.

For information on how to obtain the Supplemental Macros Application Note, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q123606 WD: Supplemental Macros for Word 6.0 for Windows Available

Method 3 (Word 2.0 only): Use the Watermark Macro from Newmacro.doc

The Watermark macro inserts text underneath the original text of the document. You must print the results to a PostScript printer.

The macro can be found by opening the Newmacro.doc from the <drive>:\WINWORD directory, where WINWORD is the Word program directory. Choose the Watermark macro from the list of available macros and then click Install.

Method 4: Set Absolute Margins to Overlap Header and Document Text

By adjusting the top margin, you can add a watermark text/graphic to the header so that it overlaps existing text in the document.

  1. In Word version 2.0, choose Page Setup from the Format menu. In Word version 6.0 and later for Windows, choose Page Setup from the File menu. In Word version 6.0 for Macintosh, choose Document Layout from the File menu. In Word version 5.x, choose Document from the Format menu.


  2. Select the Margins option/tab and place a MINUS SIGN in front of the Top Margin. For example, a 1 inch top margin becomes -1 inch margin. Click OK.


  3. From the View menu, verify that Normal is selected.


  4. From the View menu, choose Header and Footer. In Word 2.0 and Word 5.0, select Header. Click OK.


  5. Insert a graphic by choosing Picture from the Insert menu; or type the watermark text. To rotate the text, see the section entitled "How to Create Rotated Watermark Text". If you are not rotating the text but need to enlarge it, select the text and change the point size to approximately 72 points.


  6. To position the Watermark centered on the page, you can place the watermark in a frame or format the paragraph with Spacing Before.

    To create a frame:

    1. Select the text/graphic.


    2. On the Insert menu, click Frame.


    3. To move the frame, select the border and drag it to its new location. To resize the frame, select the border and drag one of the sizing handles. You can also move or resize the frame with specific measurements by clicking Frame on the Format menu. Set both Horizontal and Vertical position to Center Relative to Margins or Page.


    To format the paragraph for spacing before:


    1. Select the text/graphic.


    2. On the Format menu, click Paragraph.


    3. In the Spacing Before text box, type one of the following measurements: 18 li, 216 pt, or 3 in (6 li = 72 pts = 1 inch). Click OK.

      For example, "3 in" provides 3 inches of space between the margin and the watermark text. You may need to adjust the Spacing Before setting to achieve proper vertical spacing.


    4. To center between the left and right margins, click the Center Align button on the Formatting toolbar in Word 2.0, 6.0 and 7.0 or on the Header ruler in Word 5.x.

      NOTE: You can also use this procedure to add landscape text or graphics to the margin area of a page printed in portrait mode.


Creating Rotated Watermark Text

In Word for Windows 2.0 and later and Word 6.x for the Macintosh, you can use WordArt to create these types of words formatted in large, lightly colored text that is rotated 45 degrees. In Word 5.x for Macintosh, you can use Picture Editor to do the same. Use the appropriate method for your version of Word.

Method 2: Word 2.x, 6.x, 7.x:

  1. On the Insert menu, click Object.


  2. Select Microsoft WordArt. Click OK.


  3. In the "Enter Your Text Here" dialog box, type the watermark text.


  4. Change the Font Size from Best Fit to the desired size.


  5. On the Format menu, click Shading.

    NOTE: On the Macintosh, the Shading button can be found under the Fill option (second button from the left).


  6. Change the Foreground drop down list box from Black to Gray or Silver --Silver being lighter than Gray. Click OK.


  7. On the Format menu, click Rotation And Effects.

    NOTE: On the Macintosh, use the Special Effects button which can be found under the Stretch option (third button from the left).


  8. In the Rotation text box, type 45. Click OK.


  9. Make any other formatting changes necessary to produce the watermark needed. When finished formatting, click outside of the WordArt object border. This will return your insertion point to the header.


Method 2: Word 5.x for the Macintosh (and a PostScript Printer):

  1. On the View menu, verify that Ruler is selected. On the Ruler, click the Centered paragraph alignment button.


  2. Select the watermark text. On the Format menu, click Character. Select a large font size (such as 72 pt). Select the Outline option and click OK.


  3. The watermark text should still be selected. Copy the watermark text as a picture by pressing COMMAND+OPTION+D.


  4. From the Insert menu, choose Picture. Click New Picture.


  5. From the Edit menu, choose Paste. The watermark text will appear.

    NOTE: If the watermark text wraps when you paste it in the picture window, set the left and right document margins to 0 (zero) inches before you press COMMAND+OPTION+D in step 3 above.


  6. Select the watermark text in the picture window. Click the rotation tool and drag one of the sizing handles to rotate the text approximately 40 degrees.


  7. Close the Edit Picture window.

    A border appears around the graphic in the header window.


  8. To remove this border, select the graphic, and from the Format menu, choose Border. Select None and click OK.


How to Fine Tune the Color of the Watermark

If the watermark interferes with the legibility of the text on the page, you can use any of these procedures to lighten it:

  • To lighten straight text, on the Format menu, click Font, and then change the Color option to Lt Gray.


  • To lighten WordArt text, double-click the object, and then change the Shading foreground color to Silver instead of Gray.


  • To lighten drawing objects, choose Drawing Object on the Format menu, and then change the color to the desired gray shading.


  • Imported graphics can usually be lightened using the Picture Editor. Double-click the picture. Click the Select Drawing Objects tool, and then select the whole object. Choose the Fill Color button and change the color to Gray or Silver. Also, note that you can use a graphics program to alter the color of the graphic.



REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q28868 Setting Absolute (Fixed) Margins in Word (Macintosh)

Q26556 PostScript Commands to Print a Word Under Text on a Page (Macintosh)

Q141926 How to Place Text over a Graphic in Microsoft Word
"Microsoft Word User's Guide" version 6.0, pages 335, 368, 384-386, 588- 590

Additional query words: QuickDraw watermarking watermarks water mark overlay overlapping

Keywords : kbgraphic wordnt winword ntword macword word6 winword2 word7 word95 macword5
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,5.1,5.1a,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a; WINDOWS:2.0,2.0a,2.0b,2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a; winnt:6.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: September 20, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.