Add a watermark that appears on every page

In Publisher, you can add a watermark to appear on every page or only some pages. The text or images that you add to the background of a page simulate the translucence of a traditional watermark.

Newer versionsOffice 2007

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Add text watermark

Add words such as draft or sample to the pages in a publication by using this technique.

1. Click View > Views, and then select Master Page.

2. Click the master page that you want to add the watermark to edit, or right-click the Pages for more options, such as add or delete master pages and changing to a two-page master.

3. On the Ribbon, click the Insert tab, then Draw Text Box .

4. On the master page, click and draw the text box.

5. Type the text that you want to appear as the watermark, and then select the text.

6. Right-click the text and use the quick view menu or font dialog box to select font color and fill effects.

   1. Click the arrow next to the Color list, and then click Fill Effects.

   2. In the Fill Effects dialog box, click a tint of the color that is 30 percent or lighter.

      Tip: To simulate a traditional watermark, select Emboss or Engrave under Effects in the Font dialog box.

7. To return to a publication page, on the ribbon click View > Normal.

Add a graphic watermark

You can use a picture, clip art, or other image, such as a company logo. Images, sized from small to full-page, serve as effective backgrounds for text when the text color contrasts consistently with the image's colors.

You can learn more about using photos or pictures in the article Create a watermark from a photo or picture in Publisher.

Add a WordArt watermark

The process for adding a WordArt watermark is similar to the process for adding text as a watermark to your publication. You will do all of your entering text, selecting the WordArt style, color, and size working in the Master Page view.

1. Click View > Views, and then select Master Page.

2. Click the master page you want to add the watermark to, and then on the ribbon Insert > WordArt .

3. Enter your text in the Edit WordArt Text window, select the font and style, and click OK.

4. To change the font, style, or color, select WordArt Styles on the Format tab, click Format WordArt , and then click the Colors and Lines, Size or Layout tabs.

5. Select the colors that you want, and then increase the transparency setting to at least 70 percent.

6. To return to a publication page, click View > Views, and select on Normal.

Add a different watermark to a set of pages

When your publication uses only one master page and you add a watermark to that master page, the watermark appears on every page of your publication. To add a watermark that appears on selected pages only, place the text or picture on the publication pages instead of on the master page, and then send the picture or text box to the back.

To add a different watermark to a set of pages, such as a chapter or a book signature, create different master pages, insert the appropriate watermark into each master page, and then apply each master page to the appropriate range of publication pages. You can also add a watermark across a two-page master page.

Tip: If a watermark is placed behind other objects on the page, the objects that are hiding it may be opaque. To make an opaque object transparent, click the object to select it (if the object is a table, select the entire table), and then press CTRL+T. If the object is opaque, it becomes transparent; if the object is already transparent, it becomes white.

Note: Office 2007 has reached the end of its support lifecycle, meaning there are no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates. If you ser using Office 2007 products and services, we recommend that you move to Office 365 or upgrade to supported versions of Office products and services, such as Office 2016.

Add a text watermark

Add words such as draft or sample to the pages in a publication by using this technique.

1. On the View menu, click Master Page.

2. In the Edit Master Pages task pane, point to the name of the master page that you want to add the watermark to, click the arrow, and then click Edit.

3. On the Objects toolbar, click Text Box .

   Note: If the Objects toolbar isn't open, click Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Objects.

4. On the master page, click to create the text box.

5. Type the text that you want, and then select the text.

6. On the Format menu, click Font.

7. In the Font dialog box, click the arrow next to the Color list, and then click Fill Effects.

8. In the Fill Effects dialog box, click a tint of the color that is 30 percent or lighter.

   Note: You can change the color by clicking the arrow next to Base color and then choosing one of the color options.

   Tip: To simulate a traditional watermark, select Emboss or Engrave under Effects in the Font dialog box.

9. To return to a publication page, click Close Master View on the Edit Master Pages toolbar.

Add a graphic watermark

Images, sized from small to full-page, serve as effective backgrounds for text when the text color contrasts consistently with the image's colors. You can use a picture, clip art, or other image, such as a company logo.

First, you add a frame to the page. Then you insert the image into the frame. Finally, you format the image. You can learn more about using photos or pictures in the article Create a watermark from a photo or picture in Publisher.

Add a WordArt watermark

The process for adding a WordArt watermark is similar to the process for adding text as a watermark to your publication.

1. On the View menu, click Master Page.

2. In the Edit Master Pages task pane, point to the name of the master page that you want to add the watermark to, click the arrow, and then click Edit.

3. On the Objects toolbar, click Insert WordArt .

   Note: If the Objects toolbar isn't open, click Toolbars on the View menu, and then click Objects.

4. Select the WordArt style that you want, and then click OK.

5. In the Edit WordArt Text dialog box, type and format the text that you want, and then click OK.

6. On the WordArt toolbar, click Format WordArt , and then click the Colors and Lines tab.

7. Select the colors that you want, and then increase the transparency setting to at least 70 percent.

8. To return to a publication page, click Close Master View on the Edit Master Pages toolbar.

Add a different watermark to a set of pages

When your publication uses only one master page and you add a watermark to that master page, the watermark appears on every page of your publication. To add a watermark that appears on selected pages only, place the text or picture on the publication pages instead of on the master page, and then send the picture or text box to the back.

To add a different watermark to a set of pages, such as a chapter or a book signature, create different master pages, insert the appropriate watermark into each master page, and then apply each master page to the appropriate range of publication pages. You can also add a watermark across a two-page master page.

Tip: If a watermark is placed behind other objects on the page, the objects that are hiding it may be opaque. To make an opaque object transparent, click the object to select it (if the object is a table, select the entire table), and then press CTRL+T. If the object is opaque, it becomes transparent; if the object is already transparent, it becomes white.