How to Add Draft in the Background in MS Word

You can make or remove watermarks with a few clicks of a mouse.

When you are working on a draft of a proposal, it helps to place the word "Draft" underneath the text to let your readers know the document is not finished. In Microsoft Word 2007 adding the word "Draft" in the background is done by using a watermark. Watermarks appear as large, gray versions of a word or picture in the document background. Watermarks do not obscure document text and are used to categorize documents with words like "Urgent," "Confidential" or "Sample." Logos or pictures can also be added as a watermark to show company representation, to prevent copying or as a decoration.

Instructions

Add a Draft Watermark

1. Open Microsoft Word and the document to which you want to add the word "Draft" in the background. Click on the "Page Layout Tab" and then click on "Watermark" in the Page Background group in the middle of the Ribbon.

2. Click on either the "Draft 1" or "Draft 2" thumbnail and the word "Draft" appears in the background of your document.

3. Click on the "Microsoft Office Button" and "Save" to save the document with the watermark. You can now send it or print it with the word "Draft" on it.

Add a Custom Watermark

1. Open Microsoft Word and the document to which you want to add a custom word or image as the background.

2. Click on the "Page Layout Tab" and then click on "Watermark" in the Page Background group. Then click on "Custom Watermark." When the Printed Watermark dialog box appears, click on the "Picture Watermark Radio Button."

3. Click "Select Picture Button" underneath the radio buttons and find the picture you want to use as a logo. Add the picture by clicking "Insert" and then selecting the size of logo on the page by clicking the "Scale" drop-down menu.

4. Check the "Washout" check box to obscure the picture and then click "OK" to add the picture as your watermark.

Remove a Draft Watermark

1. Open the document with the watermark and click on the "Page Layout Tab."

2. Click "Watermark" in the Page Background group to remove the watermark.

3. Save your document by clicking on the "Microsoft Office Button" and "Save." Click on the "Microsoft Office Button" and "Print" to print the document without the watermark.

Tips & Warnings

• To add a word you write as a watermark, you click on "Watermark," "Custom Watermark" and then select the "Text Radio Button." Type in a word in the Text Field or select a word from the drop-down menu. You can also choose color, size, font and layout for the word(s) you add. Click "OK" to add your custom text as a watermark to your document.

References

• Office Online: Brand a Document with a Watermark or Background
• LSU: Microsoft Word 2007: How to Make a Picture into a Watermark
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: Adding Watermarks