How to Apply a Watermark to Your Graphics in Inkscape

Protect your photos with a custom watermark

What to Know

  • Select Layer > Add Layer > Add. Use the Text tool to add a watermark or copyright information.
  • Choose the Select tool and select the text. Go to Object > Fill and Stroke. Select Fill tab and drag Opacity slider to reduce transparency.
  • To type a © symbol in Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+C. In macOS, press Option+G

Adding a watermark to your photos with Inkscape discourages others from using your work without permission. Here's how to create a watermark using Inkscape version 0.92.4 for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

How to Add a Watermark in Inkscape

Any watermark information you place on top of a design can contain your name or any other identifying information to indicate that the artwork is not free for use. Your watermark should be large enough to be obvious yet transparent enough for your art to be visible. To apply watermarks in Inkscape:

  1. Open the image that you want to add a watermark to in Inkscape.

    Open the image that you want to add a watermark to in Inkscape.
  2. Select Layer > Add Layer. Placing the watermark on a separate layer makes it easier for you to move or alter later.

    The watermark layer should always be positioned above the image layer. Select Layer > Switch to Layer Above in the menu to move layers up.

    A screenshot of Inkscape with the Add Layer command highlighted
  3. Select Add to create the new layer.

    Select Add to create the new layer.
  4. Select the Text tool, then click on the image and type your watermark or copyright information. You can change the font and size using the controls in the top toolbar. The color of the text can be changed using the swatches at the bottom of the window.

    To type a © symbol on Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + C. If that doesn't work and you have a number pad on your keyboard, hold the Alt key and type 0169. On Mac, type Option + G

    A screenshot of Inkscape with the Text tool highlighted
  5. Click the Select tool, then select the watermark text.

    A screenshot of Inkscape with the Select tool highlighted
  6. Go to Object > Fill and Stroke.

    A screenshot of Inkscape with the Fill and Stroke command highlighted
  7. Select the Fill tab (if it isn't already selected), then drag the Opacity slider to the left to make the text semi-transparent.

    A screenshot of Inkscape with the Fill and Stroke opacity slider highlighted

Once satisfied, you can save the file and export the image in various formats including PNG.

A text watermark overlays an image of a city skyline
fanjianhua / Getty Images
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