🎄Holiday Sale! Save up to 43% on UPDF! Buy and get extra months of AI membership and free templates! Learn more

How to Add a Watermark to PDF on Mac: 5 Effective Ways

In order to make sure that everybody who has access to your PDF file knows where it came from, watermarking it is an essential step. Individuals and businesses alike often put watermarks on PDF documents to make them more secure against unauthorized usage. Let's take a look at 5 ways to add a watermark to PDF on Mac.

Way 1. How to Add Watermark to PDF on Mac with UPDF

UPDF for Mac is an easy-to-use PDF editor for Mac that makes the editing of PDF files simple. It is not just a tool to help you add watermark to PDF on Mac, but it is like an all-in-one package for all your PDF needs. It is really simple to edit, annotate, convert, organize, and sign all your PDF files in one location.

You don't have to upload any documents to an online platform for editing purposes. UPDF is completely offline and ensures maximum protection of your PDF files. Now, let's take a look at how to add a watermark to PDF on Mac:

Step 1. Enter into Watermark Mode

First, you need to download and install the UPDF on your Mac. You can download it directly by clicking the below button. Then launches the UPDF application.

Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure

Open your PDF file in the UPDF application. Once opened, click the "Page Tools" icon on the left side and then click on "Watermark" at the top of your screen. Next, click on "Add" to add the watermark.

watermark pdf mac with updf

Step 2. Set Watermark Types

You can add three types of watermarks to PDF, here are the different types:

  • If you want to add a "Text" as a watermark, click on it. You can also change the content used as text. Moreover, it also allows you to adjust the transparency, scaling, and orientation of the watermark.
  • To add an image as a watermark, click on the "Image" option. You can also adjust the transparency, scaling, and orientation of the image used as a watermark.
  • The last option is to add PDF as a watermark. Click on the "PDF" option and adjust the settings like transparency, orientation, scaling, and tiled view.
add watermark to pdf mac with updf

Step 3. Can I Add a Watermark to the PDF on Mac?

Then you can set the content, color, ratio, and opacity of the watermark. You can also choose to add a tiled watermark and UPDF offers 8 types of tiled watermark for you to use. You can also set the position of the watermark.

After setting all the parameters of the watermark, click the "Save" button to save the watermark to your file.

Video Tutorial on How to Add Watermark to PDF on Mac

Bonus

UPDF is more than a PDF watermark creator, it features more capabilities, including PDF editing, reading, converting, OCR, AI assistant, etc. As UPDF is currently on sale, purchase it now to unlock more premium features! Let's take a look at some of the most important and popular features of UPDF.
  • Add watermark, background, header, and footer: To protect the ownership and legal use of your PDF documents, UPDF allows you to add a watermark, background, header, and footer to your files.
  • Edit text and images: UPDF allows you to edit PDF files using professional PDF editing tools. You can add, remove, and add text to your documents. Moreover, it also allows you to edit the images present in your PDF file.
  • Annotate PDF files: It is very important to annotate PDF files. You may need to highlight some portions of the text to make it more visible to the readers. It also allows you to add sticky notes or comments on any words or text in your PDF document.
  • AI Tools: UPDF has integrated with GPT-4, making it convenient to summarize/translate/explain PDFs, chat with images, and convert PDFs to mind maps.
  • Organize documents: Organizing PDF files is as important as creating new ones. UPDF PDF organizer allows you to organize the different pages of your document. You can rotate, crop, add, and remove any page of your PDF document.
  • Sign PDF files: In this modern age, UPDF allows you to electronically sign your PDF files using its software. You can also share the signed document with others using the URL or email.

Have learned how to add watermarks to PDF on Mac with UPDF? Get started by downloading it now!

Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure


Way 2. How to Add Watermark to PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat

The second method is to use Adobe Acrobat to add Watermark to your PDF on Mac. Here is how to add a watermark to PDF on Mac with Adobe:

Step 1. Add a watermark to your PDF by selecting "Tools > Edit PDF > Watermark > Add". Here are three different methods to add a watermark to PDF on Mac:

  • To re-use a watermark and watermark choices that you previously saved, pick them from the "Saved Settings" menu.
  • In order to create a new text watermark, select "Text", input the text, and then press "Enter". Text formatting settings can be changed to suit your needs.
  • Use the "File" menu to add an image as a watermark. After that, click "Browse" and pick an image file from your system's hard drive. Make sure to include the page number if there are many images in the file.

Step 2. Make necessary changes to the watermark's appearance and location.

add watermark to pdf mac adobe

Way 3. How to Add Watermark to PDF on Mac with Automator

You can add a watermark to PDF on Mac using Automator in the following ways:

  1. Create a new document by clicking the "New Document" button on the bottom left. Click "Choose" after selecting "Quick Action". You can pick PDF files from a drop-down list in Automator's Workflow field at the top of the window.
  2. Select PDFs from the first sidebar. Select (double-click) "Watermark PDF Documents" from the second sidebar.
  3. To add a watermark, click the "Add" button in the top right corner and choose an image from your device's gallery.
  4. Adjusting the position, size, angle, and opacity of your watermark will be available. Simply input a number in the x or y box to change the position of the watermark.
  5. Pick "Files and Folders" from the first sidebar, and then select the option to move Finder items from the second sidebar.
  6. In order to save PDF files with a watermark on your Mac, you must now specify the location in "Move Finder Items". A different location can be selected by clicking on the default location and choosing Other.
  7. Select "File" > "Save" to save the workflow.
automator watermark pdf

Way 4. How to Add Watermark to PDF on Mac with Preview

Mac Preview has no option to add the watermark to the PDF file. However, you can use the "Text Box" tool under annotate as a watermark. But this is not the real watermark. Let's take a look at how to add a text box to PDF with Mac Preview.

  1. Use the Preview app to open a PDF.
  2. Show the markup tools for editing.
  3. Add text as a watermark by selecting the "Text" tool, then selecting the "A" icon to change the color and font of the watermark text.
  4. Finally, save your PDFs by going to "File" > "Save" and finish applying a watermark.
add watermark to pdf mac preview

Please note: This method is using the text box as the watermark. It's not a real watermark. The downside of this method is that the watermark will be in the front layer of the PDF file. Other tools such as UPDF will let you to choose put the watermark in the back or front layer of the PDF file.


Way 5. How to Add Watermark to PDF on Mac with PDF Expert

Same as Preview, the PDF Expert does not have any watermark tool. You can use a "Text Box" tool to add a watermark to your PDF. It is not a real watermark. Here is how to add a text box to PDF:

  1. To view a PDF file, open it with the PDF Expert app.
  2. Show the editing markup tools in the toolbar.
  3. Using the "Text" tool, pick the A icon to change the color and font of the watermark text, and then save your changes.
  4. To complete adding a watermark to your PDFs, go to "File > Save" and save them.
pdf expert add watermark

Comparison Between the 5 Best Tools for Adding Watermark

Are you still confused about which tool to select for adding a watermark to a PDF on Mac? Check this table to find the perfect tool for adding high-quality watermarks.

UPDFAdobe AcrobatAutomatorPreviewPDF Expert
Rating5/54.7/54.2/54.64.6/5
Ease-of-UseExcellentGreatGreatSatisfactoryGreat
Built-in Watermark Feature 
Watermark Quality5/54.85/54.4/54.6/54.7/5
Watermark OptionsImage, Text, PDFImage, TextImageText, ImageText, Image
PlatformsAndroid, iOS, Windows, MacAndroid, iOS, Windows, MacMacMaciOS, Mac
Lag RatioZero3%1%2%1.5%
SpeedBlazing-FastMediumGreatGreatExcellent

Conclusion

With such extensive techniques available, there won't be any complications left for adding watermarks to your PDF documents. While you have learned several methods, UPDF has shown its excellence in the form of exceptional functions. With quick watermark editing features, this PDF editor displays the finest results. Even if you are new to this, this would've helped you discover the right direction. Simply download it by clicking the button below and customize your own watermark now!

Windows • macOS • iOS • Android 100% secure

% OFF
$  
  OFF
You can use this limited time coupon to purchase designated UPDF PRO or AI products.

Get limited
time coupons!

Click to receive and use it
Extra {couponPrice}% off coupon Extra ${couponPrice} coupon

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Continued use of this website indicates your acceptance of our privacy policy.