How to Create & Add a Watermark to Your Photos Using Adobe Photoshop Elements

A watermark is a very light, almost see-through design placed on top of another image. Watermarks are sometimes used to show ownership; you may wish to use a watermark if you’re placing your own photographs or drawings on the Internet to prevent someone from downloading or copying them to use as his own. Creating a watermark takes only a few moments and may be quickly added onto a photo with just a few quick steps in Photoshop Elements, a graphics software package available from Adobe.

Instructions

1. Open Elements and click “File,” then click “New.” Name the file “Watermark” and set your preferred dimensions; remember that the watermark is going on top of your photograph, so keep the original photo’s size in mind. Pull down the “Mode” menu and select “RGB Color,” then choose “Transparent” from the “Contents” menu and click the “OK” button.

2. Click the “Text” tool, which looks like a “T,” on the “Tools” palette on the left side of the screen. A new toolbar opens at the top; select a font, size and color. Click your cursor inside the “Watermark” box and type the words for your watermark, such as your name or “Property of,” “Trademarked” or “No downloads.”

3. Click the “Edit” menu at the top of the screen, then choose “Transform” and “Rotate.” Grab a corner of the text and rotate it so the words are at an angle. When satisfied, press the “Enter” key on your keyboard. Leave the “Watermark” box open on your screen.

4. Open your photo by clicking “File,” then “Open,” then browsing to where it is located on your computer. Double-click it to open it on the Photoshop workspace.

5. Click the “Watermark” file to give it focus, then click the “Select” menu at the top of the screen and choose “All.” Press the “Ctrl” and “C” keys on your keyboard, which is the copy function.

6. Click the new photo to give it focus, then press the “Ctrl” and “V” keys, which pastes the watermark directly onto your photo. Click the “Move” tool, which looks like a black arrow head and cross on the “Tools” palette, to drag the watermark into place.

7. Save the file by clicking “File,” then “Save As.” Give the image a new name; don’t save it on top of the original or you won’t be able to access the photo without the watermark.

8. Save the watermark file to your computer for future use. On the "Save" screen, choose "GIF" from the "Format" drop-down menu; this is the only option that allows transparent backgrounds.

References

• Photoshop Tips and Tricks: Photoshop vs. Elements