How to Watermark Pictures in Adobe Photoshop CS4

Protect your images by watermarking your photos in Photoshop.

Watermarks provide photographers the opportunity to protect their photos from digital theft and receive recognition and credit for their work without taking attention from the dominant image. Watermarks may be a small signature or name in a corner of the image, or a ghost-like stamp across the image. Adding your name or company name in Photoshop CS4 tells viewers who the image belongs to, and is accomplished through a simple layering process.

Instructions

1. Launch Photoshop and open a new file by clicking "File" and then "New" from the drop-down box. Name the watermark when prompted.

2. Choose a width and height for your watermark. Experiment with the size depending upon your image and the desired shape of your watermark, but 1600x200 with a 300 pixels per inch resolution works well for most standard watermarks.

3. Go to "Background Contents" and choose "Transparent" from the drop-down menu. Your file now has a checkered background. This assures that only the text of the watermark shows when it's layered over the image.

4. Select the Horizontal Type Tool from the Toolbox. Click on your document and type the desired text of your watermark. Adjust font style and size using the Options bar.

5. Add opacity by going to the Layers Panel and adjusting the opacity bar at the bottom of the panel. Test the different percentages of opacity until you find the one you like best. Fifty to 65 percent is recommended to begin with.

6. Save the watermark as a .psd file. Open your image alongside your watermark so that both are tabbed in Photoshop.

7. Click and drag the watermark to the tab for your image. Once the image tab is open, drag the watermark directly onto the image. Let go of the watermark and a new layer appears.

8. To adjust the size of your watermark, select the watermark layer and click "Edit," then choose "Free Transform." Use your mouse on the Transform box to pull the corners to adjust the size and to turn the watermark horizontal or vertical, as desired. Press "Enter" to apply the watermark and save the image.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with the size of the watermark, adding the Emboss feature and font style and size.

References

• Best Web Designz: Creating a Watermark in Photoshop CS4
• Photoshop Essentials: Photoshop Watermark: Add A Copyright Watermark Pattern