How to Add a Watermark in Lightroom

How to create a watermark in Lightroom Classic

1. Open the Watermark Editor

   On Windows choose Edit → Edit Watermarks; on Mac choose Lightroom Classic → Edit Watermarks.

2. Choose text or graphic

   At the top right select Text to type a copyright line, or Graphic to load your logo (PNG or JPG; PNG keeps transparency).

3. Style the text

   For text watermarks, set the font, style, alignment and color under Text Options, and optionally add a shadow.

4. Set opacity, size and position

   Under Watermark Effects adjust Opacity, choose a Size (Proportional, Fit or Fill), set horizontal and vertical Inset, and click one of the nine Anchor points. You can also rotate the watermark 90° left or right.

5. Save as a preset

   Click Save and name the preset (e.g. “© Signature bottom-right”).

6. Apply it on export

   Select your photos, choose File → Export, scroll to the Watermarking section, tick Watermark and select your preset. Click Export.

Recommended Lightroom watermark settings

• Size: “Proportional” at 15–25% for a corner signature.
• Opacity: 40–70% depending on how visible you want it.
• Inset: 2–4% so it doesn’t touch the edge.
• Create an export preset with your watermark, size and quality so one click does it all.

Lightroom watermark limitations

• Rotation is limited to 90° steps — no diagonal watermarks.
• No tiled/repeating pattern for strong protection.
• No arbitrary angle or free positioning by percentage — only the nine anchors plus inset.
• It only works on photos in your catalogue; PDFs and documents are out of scope.
• It requires an Adobe subscription.

If you need diagonal or tiled watermarks, watermarking PDFs, or you’re not a Lightroom user, WatermarkOn covers all of that in the browser.

What about Lightroom (cloud) and Lightroom mobile?

The cloud-based Lightroom apps also offer watermarking when you export or share, with simpler options than Classic (text or graphic, size, opacity and position). Look for the watermark settings in the app’s preferences or in the export/share options.

The faster way: watermark without Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic gets the job done, but it was not built for watermarking. If you just need your name or logo on your files, WatermarkOn does it in your browser in under a minute:

1. Open WatermarkOn and drop in your images or PDFs (as many as you want).
2. Type your text or upload your logo (transparent PNG works best).
3. Pick a position — a preset like centred or bottom-right, an exact percentage, or a pixel distance from any corner — then set opacity and rotation.
4. Click “Add watermark” and download each file or everything as a ZIP.

Lightroom Classic vs WatermarkOn

Frequently asked questions

Where is the watermark option in Lightroom Classic?

In Edit → Edit Watermarks (Windows) or Lightroom Classic → Edit Watermarks (Mac). To apply it, use the Watermarking section of the Export dialog.

Can I rotate a watermark diagonally in Lightroom?

No, Lightroom only rotates watermarks in 90° steps. For a diagonal watermark use an editor or WatermarkOn, which supports any angle.

Does a Lightroom watermark change my original photo?

No. The watermark is only added to exported copies; the photos in your catalogue remain untouched.