Build and insert Lightroom watermarks - how it works

With a copyright notice you want to protect your pictures from unauthorized use. This practical tip shows you how easily you can insert watermarks in Lightroom.

How to create a watermark with Lightroom

For copyright purposes, Lightroom lets you quickly and easily create watermarks and insert them into images:

• Navigate in the menu bar to "Edit"> "Edit Watermark".
• Then choose whether you want to use text or graphics as watermarks.
• For a text watermark, enter the desired text under the preview area.
• You can then specify the font, style, alignment, color and drop shadow for the text in the left pane if required.
• Once you have decided on a graphic, click on the "Select ..." button under "Image options" and then select the desired file in PNG or JPEG format.
• Extra tip: Sometimes the watermark does not appear in the final pictures. If this happens to you, try a larger size or a different watermark position on your photo. Also check whether you are using the latest update. To do this, choose Choose Help> Check For Updates.

This is how you can set special watermark effects

If you don't like the Lightroom standard, you can change various effects yourself.

• With the "opacity" you set the transparency of your watermark.
• You can also adjust the size of the watermark. With "Proportional" you scale the watermark. If you want to adjust the watermark to the width of the image, select "Fit". With "Fill" the watermark fills the entire picture.
• With "offset" the watermark can be moved horizontally or vertically.
• There are nine anchor points available under "Anchor". Click on the desired anchor point. You can then rotate the watermark.

The best plugins for Lightroom can be found in the next practical tip.