How to Apply Custom Watermarks to PDFs

IronPDF enables you to apply custom watermarks to PDF documents using HTML strings with full CSS support, allowing complete customization of text, images, opacity, rotation, and positioning for branding or security purposes.

Quickstart: Apply Watermarks to PDFs in Java

1. Import IronPDF library and set your license key
2. Load your PDF document using PdfDocument.fromFile()
3. Create an HTML string for your watermark (text or image)
4. Apply the watermark using pdf.applyWatermark(watermarkHtml)
5. Save the watermarked PDF with pdf.saveAs()

```java :title=QuickStartWatermark.java PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("sample.pdf")); pdf.applyWatermark(""); pdf.saveAs("watermarked.pdf");

Watermarking protects PDF documents and asserts ownership or status by marking them as "Confidential" or branding them with a logo. IronPDF provides a flexible solution using HTML strings with full CSS support. This enables complete customization through standard HTML and CSS properties.

This guide demonstrates different watermark types—text, image, location, opacity, and rotation adjustments—plus advanced methods using [TextStamper](https://ironpdf.com/java/object-reference/api/com/ironsoftware/ironpdf/stamp/TextStamper.html) and [ImageStamper](https://ironpdf.com/java/object-reference/api/com/ironsoftware/ironpdf/stamp/ImageStamper.html). For more PDF manipulation techniques, explore our guide on [creating PDFs](https://ironpdf.com/java/how-to/java-create-pdf-tutorial/) or learn about [adding backgrounds and foregrounds](https://ironpdf.com/java/how-to/background-foreground/).

<div class="hsg-featured-snippet">
    <h2>How to Apply Watermarks in Java</h2>
     <ol>
        <li><a class="js-modal-open" data-modal-id="download-modal" href="#download-modal">Download the Java library to apply watermarks to PDFs</a></li>
        <li>Render a new PDF or load an existing one</li>
        <li>Configure the HTML string or image to be used as a watermark</li>
        <li>Apply the watermark using the appropriate method</li>
        <li>Adjust parameters for opacity, rotation, and location as needed</li>
    </ol>
</div>

## How Do I Apply a Text Watermark to a PDF?

To apply a simple text watermark to a PDF document, use the `applyWatermark` method. This method accepts text using HTML and CSS for advanced styling. For example, add the text 'Confidential' in red to the PDF. This technique marks documents for internal use or indicates confidentiality status. The HTML approach provides flexibility through CSS properties including custom fonts, colors, sizes, and text effects.

```java
import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.License;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Set the license key for IronPDF
        License.setLicenseKey("IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01");

        // Load an existing PDF document from file
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("sample.pdf"));

        // HTML string for watermark
        String watermarkHtml = "<h1 style='color:red;'>Confidential</h1>";

        // Apply the watermark using HTML string
        pdf.applyWatermark(watermarkHtml);

        // Save the PDF to a new file
        pdf.saveAs("text_watermark.pdf");
    }
}

The code demonstrates basic implementation. First, configure your IronPDF license to access all features. The watermark HTML accepts any valid HTML elements and CSS styling for complete control over appearance.

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.License;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Set the license key for IronPDF
        License.setLicenseKey("IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01");

        // Load an existing PDF document from file
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("sample.pdf"));

        // Image HTML watermark
        String watermarkHtml = "<img src='logo.png' style='width:100px;'/>";

        // Apply the image watermark
        pdf.applyWatermark(watermarkHtml);

        // Save the PDF to a new file
        pdf.saveAs("image_watermark.pdf");
    }
}

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.License;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Set the license key for IronPDF
        License.setLicenseKey("IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01");

        // Load an existing PDF document from file
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("sample.pdf"));

        // Image HTML watermark
        String watermarkHtml = "<img src='logo.png' style='width:100px;'/>";

        // Apply the image watermark
        pdf.applyWatermark(watermarkHtml);

        // Save the PDF to a new file
        pdf.saveAs("image_watermark.pdf");
    }
}

// Example with more advanced CSS styling
String advancedWatermarkHtml = "<img src='logo.png' style='width:150px; opacity:0.5; transform:rotate(-45deg);'/>";

// Example with more advanced CSS styling
String advancedWatermarkHtml = "<img src='logo.png' style='width:150px; opacity:0.5; transform:rotate(-45deg);'/>";

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.License;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.HorizontalAlignment;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.VerticalAlignment;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Set the license key for IronPDF
        License.setLicenseKey("IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01");

        // Load an existing PDF document from file
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("sample.pdf"));

        // HTML string for watermark
        String watermarkHtml = "<h1 style='color:blue;'>Confidential</h1>";

        // Apply the HTML watermark with 30% opacity, positioned at the top-left corner of each page
        pdf.applyWatermark(watermarkHtml, 30, VerticalAlignment.TOP, HorizontalAlignment.LEFT);

        // Save the PDF to a new file
        pdf.saveAs("watermark_opacity_rotation.pdf");
    }
}

import java.io.IOException;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.License;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.PdfDocument;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.HorizontalAlignment;
import com.ironsoftware.ironpdf.stamp.VerticalAlignment;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
        // Set the license key for IronPDF
        License.setLicenseKey("IRONPDF-MYLICENSE-KEY-1EF01");

        // Load an existing PDF document from file
        PdfDocument pdf = PdfDocument.fromFile(Paths.get("sample.pdf"));

        // HTML string for watermark
        String watermarkHtml = "<h1 style='color:blue;'>Confidential</h1>";

        // Apply the HTML watermark with 30% opacity, positioned at the top-left corner of each page
        pdf.applyWatermark(watermarkHtml, 30, VerticalAlignment.TOP, HorizontalAlignment.LEFT);

        // Save the PDF to a new file
        pdf.saveAs("watermark_opacity_rotation.pdf");
    }
}