Photographers, designers and illustrators dread their work being stolen: original images ripped, watermarks cropped, credits erased. Adding a copyright watermark is the most direct way to protect original work. This guide covers what to write, where to put it, and how transparent to make it.
Copyright vs. ordinary watermark
Ordinary watermarks are for brand exposure; copyright watermarks prove ownership and deter copying. They usually include:
- Author name / handle: so people know whose it is
- Copyright notice: e.g., "© 2026 Your Name All Rights Reserved"
- Contact info: optional ID or website
The point isn't beauty — it's "clearly credited + hard to remove".
Steps to add a watermark
Use the PixelForge Watermark Tool to watermark your work:
- Upload the image
- Enter copyright text: author name + ©, like "© Zhang San Photography"
- Choose placement: corners or edges, away from the subject
- Adjust opacity: 30%-50% — readable but not destructive
- Export the watermarked image
Text and image (logo) watermarks are both supported; processing is local, originals never upload.
How to make copyright watermarks anti-theft
Write it clearly
Don't just write "all rights reserved". State the author: "© Zhang San | Photography, no commercial use". It makes thieves think twice and gives you grounds to defend.
Choose placement carefully
- Corner: doesn't cover the subject, but easy to crop
- Near the subject: placed on a recognizable spot that's hard to crop
- Tiled: semi-transparent marks spread across the whole image — nearly impossible to crop
For important work, combine corner + tiled for the best protection.
Balance opacity
Too heavy ruins the look; too light is useless. Semi-transparent (30%-50%) is readable without destroying the image — the sweet spot for most.
Watermark + other protections
Watermarks aren't everything. Combine them:
- Copyright watermark: credit and deter
- Export at lower resolution: small previews publicly, high-res kept private
- Keep RAW/originals: proof of authorship if you need to fight