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How to Insert and Modify Image Watermarks in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright Leave a Comment

Palm trees on beach with text overlay "How to Insert and Modify Image Watermarks in Microsoft Word"

Today, we’re going to insert and modify image watermarks in Microsoft Word.

This is the second in a three-part series about watermarks in Microsoft Word. In the first part, we inserted and modified text watermarks. In the third part, we will insert text and image watermarks on specific pages in Word.

Image watermarks can be anything from logos to background pictures or graphics used for security, branding, or design.

Quick Links:

  • How to Insert Image Watermarks
  • How to Modify Image Watermarks

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 100 other videos about Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps will also work in Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013. However, your interface may look slightly different in those older versions of the software.

How to Insert Image Watermarks in Microsoft Word

These steps show how to insert image watermarks on every page of your document.

  1. Select the Design tab in the ribbon.
Design tab in Word 365
Figure 1. Design tab
  1. Select Watermark in the Page Background group.
Watermark button in Word 365
Figure 2. Watermark button
  1. Select Custom Watermark from the drop-down menu.
Custom Watermark option in Word 365
Figure 3. Custom Watermark option
  1. Select the Picture watermark button in the Printed Watermark dialog box.
Picture Watermark button in the Printed Watermark dialog box in Word 365
Figure 4. Picture watermark button
  1. Select the Select Picture button.
Select Picture button in the Printed Watermark dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Select Picture button
  1. Select From a file in the Insert Picture dialog box to locate an image stored on your computer.

Alternatively, you can choose Bing Image Search to search for an image online or OneDrive to locate an image stored in the cloud.

Insert Picture dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. Insert Picture dialog box

The Insert Picture dialog box will close automatically after you make your selection.

  1. Find and select your image in the second Insert Picture dialog box, and then select the Insert button.
Insert button in the second Insert Picture dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Insert button
  1. (Optional) Select a scale (sizing) option.
Scale menu in the Printed Watermark dialog box in Word 365
Figure 8. Scale menu
  1. (Optional) Select Washout to lower your image’s color intensity. (The brightness and contrast can be customized, as shown in step 7 in the modification section below.)
Washout option in the Printed Watermark dialog box in Word 365
Figure 9. Washout option
  1. Select the OK button to close the Printed Watermark dialog box.
OK button in the Printed Watermark dialog box in Word 365
Figure 10. Printed Watermark OK button

Your image watermark should appear in your document.

How to Modify Image Watermarks in Microsoft Word

These steps show how to modify the size, position, and color options for an existing image watermark.

Important Note: Each time you add a watermark, it replaces the existing watermark. So, if you want to replace your watermark, repeat all the steps in the section above.

  1. Double-click the top of any page to open the Header & Footer tab. (In Word, watermarks are part of the header even though they typically appear in the middle of the page.)
Header & Footer tab in Word 365
Figure 11. Header & Footer tab
  1. Hover your cursor over the watermark until your cursor becomes two crossed arrows. Then, double-click to select the watermark.
Double-arrow cursor over image watermark in Word 365
Figure 12. Double-arrow cursor (enlarged to show detail)

Small, gray adjustment handles (squares and circles) will appear when the watermark is selected.

Watermark adjustment handles in Word 365
Figure 13. Adjustment handles

Important Note: The selection process can be a bit temperamental, so you may have to try more than once to reveal the adjustment handles.

Resizing and Repositioning

  1. Select, hold, and drag the adjustment handles to change the size of your watermark. (The top, center handle tilts the watermark to the left and right.)
  2. To reposition your watermark, hover your cursor over the watermark until the cursor becomes two crossed arrows (see figure 12). Then, click, hold, and drag your watermark to a new position.

Color Options

  1. Right-click the watermark with the crossed-arrow cursor, and then select Format AutoShape/Picture from the shortcut menu.
Format AutoShape/Picture option in Word 365
Figure 14. Format AutoShape/Picture option
  1. (Optional) Select an option from the Color menu in the Format Picture dialog box:
    • Automatic (This option is usually a washout.)
    • Washout (This option reduces color intensity.)
    • Grayscale
    • Black & White
Color menu in the Format Picture dialog box in Word 365
Figure 15. Color menu
  1. (Optional) Adjust the Brightness and Contrast, as necessary.
Brightness and Contrast options in the Format Picture dialog box in Word 365
Figure 16. Brightness and Contrast options

Pro Tips:

  • Select the Reset button to return the watermark to the default settings.
  • Select the Compress button to reduce the image’s resolution or delete cropped areas in order to minimize the file size for printing or web display.
  1. Select the OK button to close the Format Picture dialog box.
OK button in the Format Picture dialog box in Word 365
Figure 17. Format Picture OK button

Additional Picture Format Options

  1. (Optional) Explore the Picture Format tab for additional options such as Shadow Effects. (Note that this tab only appears when an image watermark or other image is selected.)
Picture Format tab in Word 365
Figure 18. Picture Format tab

Finalize Your Modifications

  1. Select the Header & Footer tab (see figure 11).
  2. Select the Close Header and Footer button.
Close Header and Footer button in Word 365
Figure 19. Close Header and Footer button

Your watermark modifications should take effect immediately.

If you need to delete your watermark, see “How to Delete Watermarks in Microsoft Word” in the first tutorial in this series.

Related Resources

How to Create Newspaper-Style Columns in Microsoft Word

How to Insert Headers and Footers in Microsoft Word

How to Insert Placeholder Text in Microsoft Word

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Microsoft Word Tagged With: formatting, Microsoft 365, Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 365

Home » How to Insert and Modify Image Watermarks in Microsoft Word

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Technical Writer and Editor Erin WrightHello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares step-by-step software tutorials and writing tips for the real world on this blog and YouTube

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