How to Make a Copyright Watermark With GIMP

Copyright watermarks can prove important for protecting your digital images.

You can make a copyright watermark using the free graphics editor GIMP -- GNU Image Manipulation Program and part of the GNU Project. GNU is a recursive acronym (meaning it loops back on itself) for "GNU's Not Unix." This refers to the project's initiative of providing a free Unix-like operating system. Using GIMP, you can add a digital watermark to protect your work from misuse. You can notify the audience that you own digital content and help them to recognize your copyright. Whether you want to watermark pictures you post on a blog or popular online community, GIMP can help.

Instructions

1. Install GIMP if you have not already done so. Locate the free graphics editor at GIMP.org, download it and install.

2. Launch the program and open the digital image you want to copyright. Select "File" then "Open" to view your documents folder. Select the file you want and click "Open." Your image should appear in its own GIMP workbook.

3. Select the "Text Tool" icon located in the main toolbox and click your image. A text box will appear, letting you type whatever copyright text you desire. For example, "David White Copyright 2011." Change the color, font and size of your text using the "Text" properties section located below the main toolbar.

4. Launch the "Layers" toolbar. Select "Windows," then "Dockable Dialogs," then "Layers." Select the text layer in the "Layers" box and use the opacity scrollbar to increase the transparency of your copyright watermark. Depending on your preferences, you may wish to maintain an opacity level of 30 to 45.

5. Save your watermarked image. Select "File," then "Save As." Give the altered image the title of your choice and click "Save."

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to reposition your copyright watermark, you can select the "Move Tool" on the main toolbar, then and click and drag your text as you like.

• Remember to save the edited image under a different name than the original or your original will be replaced.

References

• GIMP Tutorials: The Basics Tutorial
• GIMP Concepts: Text and Fonts

Resources

• GIMP: Home