Watermark: How to protect your photos and image files

A watermark is a good copy protection for your photos if you want to publish them online. In this practical tip, we will show you how you can easily create a watermark with Picasa, Irfan View, Lightroom or Gimp.

Add watermarks with Picasa

Although Picasa is no longer being developed, it is a wonderful program for editing your photos on the computer. You can add a text watermark to all the photos you want in just a few steps.

1. Open Picasa and select the photos you want to watermark.
2. Click on "Export" below and select the desired export settings.
3. In the same window, you can activate the "Add watermark" option below and then enter the desired text.
4. Then click "Export" and your photos will be saved to your computer with the settings you want. The watermark appears in the lower right corner.

IrfanView: How to insert a watermark

You can also quickly and easily add a watermark to your photos with the popular IrfanView image viewer.

1. Open the picture you want to protect.
2. Choose "Edit" → "Insert Watermark ..."
3. Many options open in a small window. By clicking on "Select" you can import an image file that you use as a watermark.
4. You can also change the opacity, offset, and position of the watermark.
5. Confirm with "OK" and then save your photo.

Create a watermark with Lightroom

In contrast to the other programs, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom offers many options for changing your settings and thus customizing your watermark.

1. Open Lightroom and select the photos you want.
2. Right-click on "Export" or go to "File" → "Export".
3. In the export window, you can add a watermark below. Check this option.
4. In the dropdown list you can now select an existing watermark or create a new one.
5. If you have decided to create a new watermark, the "Watermark Editor" opens in a new window with which you have many options for customizing your watermark.
6. Confirm your changes with "Save" and then export the photos with "Export".

Insert watermark in Gimp

There is no direct watermark function in Gimp, but this function is not necessary as a graphics program, since the same effect can be achieved with layers.

1. Import your photo into Gimp.
2. Use drag and drop to insert the watermark graphic or add your own text using a text field.
3. Move the watermark to the desired position and change its properties by right-clicking on the layer.
4. Export the file via "File" → "Export"

In another practical tip, we will show you how you can align images in Lightroom.