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How to Add and Insert Watermarks to PDF Files on Mac Computers

Adding watermarks to PDF files on Mac computers is an easy way to protect your intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use. Watermarks can include text, images, logos, signatures, and more.

Here are some key things to know about adding watermarks on a Mac:

Why Add a Watermark to a PDF?

There are a few key reasons you may want to add a watermark to your PDF files:

  • Protect Copyright – Watermarks help assert your ownership over the document and prevent others from claiming it as their own work.
  • Prevent Unauthorized Sharing – Watermarks discourage people from sharing your original PDF files without permission by clearly labeling the files.
  • Branding – Including your company logo or name as a watermark establishes brand identity.

Watermark Options for PDF Files

You have several options when adding watermarks to PDFs on a Mac:

Text Watermarks

  • Simple to add
  • Customize font, size, color, opacity
  • Include copyright notices, disclaimers, etc.

Image Watermarks

  • Add logo, signature, or other graphics
  • Adjust size, placement, opacity

PDF Watermarks

  • Overlay another PDF file as the watermark
  • For example, adding a letterhead

How to Add Watermarks in Preview App

The Preview app included free on every Mac provides basic watermarking functionality:

Steps to Add a Text Watermark:

  1. Open the PDF in Preview
  2. Select the Markup Toolbar (View > Markup Toolbar)
  3. Click the Text button
  4. Type your watermark text
  5. Customize formatting and drag to position
  6. File > Export to save a copy with watermark

Limitations: Preview only supports simple text watermarks. For advanced options, use a dedicated PDF editing app.

Best Apps for Watermarking PDFs on Mac

Here are some of the top apps for watermarking PDFs on a Mac:

1. PDFelement

  • Intuitive interface
  • Multiple watermark types
  • Batch processing
  • Annotate and edit PDFs
  • 30-day free trial

2. Adobe Acrobat Pro

  • The standard for PDF editing
  • Advanced features and customization
  • Automate workflows
  • 30-day free trial

3. Watermark Plus

  • Specialized for batch watermarking
  • 17 built-in watermark profiles
  • Affordable license options

Step-by-Step Guide with PDFelement

PDFelement provides the easiest way to insert multiple watermarks into your PDF files on Mac.

Adding a Text Watermark

  1. Open your PDF file
  2. Go to the Tool tab and select “Add Watermark”
  3. Click the plus icon and choose “Text”
  4. Type your watermark text
  5. Customize formatting and placement
  6. Click “Apply”

Adding an Image Watermark

  1. Select “Add Watermark”
  2. Click the plus icon and choose “Image”
  3. Select your image file
  4. Adjust size and placement
  5. Click “Apply”

You can add multiple watermarks and experiment with positioning before applying. It’s fast and simple to get your PDF files protected with personalized watermarks using PDFelement.

Conclusion

Adding watermarks to your sensitive PDF documents prevents unauthorized distribution and helps protect your intellectual property. Mac computers provide built-in tools as well as robust third-party apps to insert customized watermarks into individual files or batch process multiple PDFs. With the proper setup, you can quickly add text, image, logo, and PDF watermarks to assert ownership over your work.

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