Text or logo?
Use text for a copyright notice, name, URL, proof status, or a mark that must stay legible at small sizes. Use a logo when brand recognition matters. A transparent PNG usually gives a logo the cleanest edges.
Add Watermark to Image Online Free – Text or Logo
Choose images
Drop images here or click to browse
Paste an image with Ctrl/⌘+V · JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, or SVG
Your images stay on this device. Decoding, editing, and export happen locally; this tool does not transmit source images.
Image queue
Select a thumbnail to preview it. Watermark styling applies to every image; placement can be overridden for the selected image.
Preview
Select the watermark, then drag it or use the square resize handle and round rotation handle. On a focused canvas, arrows move 1 px and Shift+arrows move 10 px.
Watermark settings
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Watermark examples
Each example loads a sample image and its demonstrated settings into the editor.
Choose a watermark that fits the job
Branding or deterrence?
A corner mark keeps a product or portfolio image tidy, but it is easy to crop. A centered or tiled mark crosses important content and better discourages casual reuse. It cannot make removal impossible.
Make a transparent logo readable
Choose a light logo over dark areas and a dark logo over bright areas. If the photo varies, add modest shadow or use a logo asset with its own outline or translucent backing plate.
Tiling and cropping
A repeated watermark is more likely to remain after a crop because several marks cross the image. Keep opacity low enough to review the photo and use diagonal rotation to distribute the pattern—not as a guarantee against automated removal.
Suggested watermark settings
| Use case | Placement | Opacity | Size | Export |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photography proofs | Centered or tiled | 18–30% | 25–40% width | JPEG high |
| Product images | Corner with padding | 65–90% | 10–18% width | Same as original or WebP |
| Portfolio work | Bottom corner | 25–45% | 12–22% width | JPEG high or WebP |
| Worksheets | Centered diagonal | 10–20% | 30–50% width | PNG |
| Social posts | Bottom center or corner | 35–60% | 12–20% width | JPEG high or WebP |
Important: A visible watermark discourages casual reuse, but it does not prevent cropping or removal and does not establish copyright ownership.
Technical note: how opacity blends pixels
For each colour channel, the browser uses the alpha-blending relationship: output = opacity × watermark + (1 − opacity) × photo.
Privacy, compatibility, and limits
Local processing: the page reads files with browser APIs, draws them to an in-memory canvas, and creates downloads locally. No source image is transmitted by this tool.
Tested core formats: JPEG, PNG, and WebP input and output. GIF uses its first frame; SVG is rasterized; AVIF input depends on browser decoding support. The editor uses standard File, Canvas, Blob, pointer-event, and download APIs supported by current Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, including current iPhone and Android browsers.
Large-image guidance: images above 40 megapixels or 25 MB may exceed mobile browser memory. The tool warns at those thresholds and offers a 20 MP working copy. On-screen preview height is capped while export uses the retained source dimensions unless you choose the safe copy.
Limitations: browser memory can constrain large batches; canvas export usually strips EXIF metadata; animated images export as a single frame; and watermarking is a deterrent, not absolute protection.
Last reviewed: 18 July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the image watermark tool completely free, and is signup required?
It is completely free to use and requires no signup or account. Starlight branding is not added to your files.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Image decoding, editing, and export happen locally in your browser. No source image is transmitted by this tool.
Does watermarking change image dimensions or quality?
Full-size mode keeps the source pixel dimensions. JPEG and WebP quality depends on the selected export preset; PNG is lossless. The optional safe downscale reduces very large images.
Which logo format works best?
A transparent PNG usually works best because it preserves soft edges and transparency. WebP can also preserve transparency. JPEG logos always have a solid background.
Can I watermark multiple images at once?
Yes. Add multiple images, apply one percentage-based configuration to the batch, review individual placement overrides, and download a ZIP that retains each source filename plus your suffix.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, in current mobile browsers that support the File, Canvas, and download APIs. Available memory and browser download behavior can limit very large batches.
Are metadata and transparency preserved?
PNG and WebP output can preserve transparent pixels, but browser canvas export normally removes EXIF and other source metadata. JPEG does not support transparency.
Can a watermark guarantee copyright protection?
No. A visible watermark can discourage casual reuse, but it can be cropped or removed and does not create or prove copyright ownership by itself.