How to Write PDF File in Java

Stamp & Watermark

Using IronPDF, developers can add stamps and watermarks to their PDF documents. Watermarks are transparent images or text that appear in the document's background, while stamps add a custom message or image to a new document.

These features are great for businesses that need to protect their documents from unauthorized use or to add a custom message to their documents.

package IronPDF.ironpdf_java;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.*;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.HorizontalAlignment;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.VerticalAlignment;

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        License.setLicenseKey("Your-License");

        // Load an existing PDF from the filesystem
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("C:\\byteToPdf.pdf"));

        // Apply a watermark to the PDF
        pdf.applyWatermark("<h2 style='color:red'>SAMPLE</h2>", 30, VerticalAlignment.TOP, HorizontalAlignment.CENTER);

        // Save the watermarked PDF
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/watermark.pdf"));
    }
}

package IronPDF.ironpdf_java;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.*;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.HorizontalAlignment;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.VerticalAlignment;

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        License.setLicenseKey("Your-License");

        // Load an existing PDF from the filesystem
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("C:\\byteToPdf.pdf"));

        // Apply a watermark to the PDF
        pdf.applyWatermark("<h2 style='color:red'>SAMPLE</h2>", 30, VerticalAlignment.TOP, HorizontalAlignment.CENTER);

        // Save the watermarked PDF
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/watermark.pdf"));
    }
}

Output PDF

Backgrounds & Foregrounds

IronPDF also allows developers to implement custom backgrounds and foregrounds in their PDF documents. Foregrounds are used to add custom text or images on top of a document, while backgrounds add a custom image or color to the background. Business owners who want their documents or PDF forms to have custom branding or graphics will find this feature particularly useful.

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.*;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class BackgroundForegroundExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Load background and foreground PDFs from the filesystem
        PdfDocument backgroundPdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/MyBackground.pdf"));
        PdfDocument foregroundPdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/MyForeground.pdf"));

        // Render content (HTML, URL, etc) as a PDF Document
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.renderUrlAsPdf("https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf");

        // Add the background and foreground PDFs to the newly-rendered document.
        pdf.addBackgroundPdf(backgroundPdf);
        pdf.addForegroundPdf(foregroundPdf);

        // Save the document with background and foreground
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/BackgroundForegroundPdf.pdf"));
    }
}

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.*;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class BackgroundForegroundExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Load background and foreground PDFs from the filesystem
        PdfDocument backgroundPdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/MyBackground.pdf"));
        PdfDocument foregroundPdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/MyForeground.pdf"));

        // Render content (HTML, URL, etc) as a PDF Document
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.renderUrlAsPdf("https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf");

        // Add the background and foreground PDFs to the newly-rendered document.
        pdf.addBackgroundPdf(backgroundPdf);
        pdf.addForegroundPdf(foregroundPdf);

        // Save the document with background and foreground
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/BackgroundForegroundPdf.pdf"));
    }
}

Add & Edit Annotations

Annotations are a great way to add additional information to PDF documents, such as notes, comments, or highlights. With IronPDF, developers can easily manage annotations effectively by adding and editing them in their PDF documents.

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.annotation.AnnotationIcon;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.annotation.AnnotationManager;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.annotation.AnnotationOptions;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class AnnotationExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Load an existing PDF from the file system
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/example.pdf"));

        // Create an annotation to be placed at a specific location on a page.
        AnnotationOptions annotation = new AnnotationOptions(
            "This is a major title", // Title of the annotation
            "This is the long 'sticky note' comment content...", // Content of the annotation
            150, // x-axis coordinate location
            250  // y-axis coordinate location
        );
        annotation.setIcon(AnnotationIcon.HELP);
        annotation.setOpacity(0.9);
        annotation.setPrintable(false);
        annotation.setHidden(false);
        annotation.setOpen(true);
        annotation.setReadonly(true);
        annotation.setRotateable(true);

        // Add the annotation to a specific page of the PDF
        AnnotationManager annotationManager = pdf.getAnnotation();
        annotationManager.addTextAnnotation(annotation, 0); // Add to the first page

        // Save the PDF with the modifications
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/annotated.pdf"));
    }
}

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.annotation.AnnotationIcon;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.annotation.AnnotationManager;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.annotation.AnnotationOptions;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class AnnotationExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Load an existing PDF from the file system
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/example.pdf"));

        // Create an annotation to be placed at a specific location on a page.
        AnnotationOptions annotation = new AnnotationOptions(
            "This is a major title", // Title of the annotation
            "This is the long 'sticky note' comment content...", // Content of the annotation
            150, // x-axis coordinate location
            250  // y-axis coordinate location
        );
        annotation.setIcon(AnnotationIcon.HELP);
        annotation.setOpacity(0.9);
        annotation.setPrintable(false);
        annotation.setHidden(false);
        annotation.setOpen(true);
        annotation.setReadonly(true);
        annotation.setRotateable(true);

        // Add the annotation to a specific page of the PDF
        AnnotationManager annotationManager = pdf.getAnnotation();
        annotationManager.addTextAnnotation(annotation, 0); // Add to the first page

        // Save the PDF with the modifications
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/annotated.pdf"));
    }
}

Output File

Outlines & Bookmarks

Developers can enhance PDF documents using bookmarks with IronPDF. An outline provides a high-level overview of the contents of a document, while bookmarks provide quick access to specific sections. For large or complex documents, this feature allows users to navigate quickly to their desired sections.

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.bookmark.Bookmark;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.bookmark.BookmarkManager;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;
import java.util.List;

public class BookmarkExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Load an existing PDF from the file system
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/book.pdf"));

        // Add top-level bookmarks to pages of the PDF using their page indices
        BookmarkManager bookmarks = pdf.getBookmark();
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("Author's Note", 2);
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("Table of Contents", 3);
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("Summary", 10);
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("References", 12);

        List<Bookmark> bookmarkList = bookmarks.getBookmarks();
        Bookmark bookmark = bookmarkList.get(2);

        // Add a child bookmark
        bookmark.addChildBookmark("Conclusion", 11);

        // Save the PDF to the filesystem
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/bookmarked.pdf"));
    }
}

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.bookmark.Bookmark;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.bookmark.BookmarkManager;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;
import java.util.List;

public class BookmarkExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Load an existing PDF from the file system
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("assets/book.pdf"));

        // Add top-level bookmarks to pages of the PDF using their page indices
        BookmarkManager bookmarks = pdf.getBookmark();
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("Author's Note", 2);
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("Table of Contents", 3);
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("Summary", 10);
        bookmarks.addBookMarkAtEnd("References", 12);

        List<Bookmark> bookmarkList = bookmarks.getBookmarks();
        Bookmark bookmark = bookmarkList.get(2);

        // Add a child bookmark
        bookmark.addChildBookmark("Conclusion", 11);

        // Save the PDF to the filesystem
        pdf.saveAs(Paths.get("assets/bookmarked.pdf"));
    }
}