How to watermark photos: open them in a watermark maker, add your brand name or a PNG logo, set it to about 30–50% opacity, place it in a corner or tile it across the image, and export copies. The free watermark maker does this for up to 20 photos at once in your browser, with text, a logo or both. Keep an unmarked original, because marketplaces such as eBay and Google Shopping don't allow watermarks on product images.
A watermark is a visible mark, usually your name or logo, that tells people where a photo came from and makes it harder to reuse without credit. For sellers it's useful on social posts, portfolios, wholesale line sheets and anything you send to resellers, and a liability on marketplace listings. This guide covers the free ways to add one on any device, the settings that look professional, and where you should leave it off.
- Fastest: a browser watermark maker; batch, text or logo, nothing to install.
- Good defaults: 30–50% opacity, white or black to suit the photo, about 5–10% of the image width for a corner mark.
- Logo: use a PNG with a transparent background so there's no box around it.
- Marketplaces: eBay bans watermarks of any type; Google Merchant Center disapproves images with watermarks. Upload clean files there.
- Always keep the original without a watermark.
Where should you watermark product photos, and where not?
Watermark photos you share for attention or send to other businesses. Leave them off listing images on marketplaces that ban them.
| Where the photo goes | Watermark? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| eBay listings | No | eBay's picture policy bans watermarks of any type, including ownership marks |
| Google Shopping / Merchant Center | No | Watermarks count as overlays that can get images disapproved |
| Amazon, Walmart and other marketplaces | Check first | Main images must show only the product; see each guide |
| Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook | Optional | A small corner mark credits you when posts are shared |
| Wholesale line sheets and catalogs | Yes | Shows the images are yours when retailers pass them on |
| Photos sent to customers for approval | Yes | Proofs shouldn't be usable as final files |
| Your own store | Usually no | It distracts from the product; buyers expect clean photos |
Rules checked on eBay's picture policy and Google's Merchant Center image requirements in October 2026. See eBay photo requirements, Google Shopping image requirements and Amazon product image requirements for the full rules.
How do you add a watermark to photos for free?
- Open the free watermark maker and drop in up to 20 JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC photos.
- Type your text (brand name, website or © line), upload your logo, or both.
- Pick the font, color, size and opacity. Start at about 40% opacity.
- Choose one of nine positions, or tile the mark in straight or diagonal rows.
- Preview a few photos, then download them one at a time or all as a ZIP.
The tool runs in your browser, so the photos aren't uploaded anywhere, and it adds no branding of its own.
Add your text or logo to a batch of product photos and download them as a ZIP. Free, no sign-up.
Watermark photos7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardHow do you watermark photos on iPhone or Android?
The watermark maker above works in a phone browser. Built-in options are more limited:
- iPhone: in Photos, tap Edit, then the Markup button, and add text. It's fine for a quick name on one photo; it doesn't add a logo or repeat the mark across a batch.
- Android: Google Photos and most gallery apps have a markup or text tool with the same limits. For a see-through mark or a logo, use a browser tool or an editing app.
- Batch on a phone: built-in editors do one photo at a time; a browser tool does many.
For plain text on a photo, such as a caption or price, see how to add text to a photo or the free add text to image tool.
How do you watermark photos in Lightroom, Photoshop or Canva?
| App | How | Batch? |
|---|---|---|
| Lightroom Classic | Edit > Edit Watermarks (Lightroom Classic > Edit Watermarks on Mac); choose a text or graphic style, set opacity and size, then apply it when you export | Yes |
| Photoshop | Add a text or logo layer, lower the layer opacity, and save; record an action to repeat it | With actions |
| Canva | Add text or your logo over the photo and lower its transparency | One design at a time |
| Browser watermark maker | Text and/or logo, opacity, position or tiling | Up to 20 at once |
What makes a good watermark?
A good watermark is easy to read when someone looks for it and easy to ignore when they look at the product.
| Setting | Starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Opacity | 30–50% | Lower on busy photos, higher on plain backgrounds |
| Size (corner mark) | About 5–10% of the image width | Big enough to read on a phone |
| Position | Bottom right or bottom center | Away from the product and any text |
| Color | White on dark photos, black or grey on light ones | Add a soft shadow if it disappears |
| Content | Brand name, logo or website | Short; a URL tells people where to find you |
| Tiling | Diagonal rows at low opacity | For proofs and line sheets you want protected |
A logo saved as a JPEG has a white box around it, which looks clumsy as a watermark. Remove the background and save a PNG before you use it; see how to make a logo background transparent or use the AI background remover.
Does a watermark stop people stealing photos?
It discourages casual reuse and credits you when an image is shared, but it isn't a lock. A small corner mark can be cropped off, and object-removal tools can paint over many watermarks. A large, tiled mark is harder to remove but spoils the photo, so save it for proofs and previews. If someone uses your product photos without permission, the platform they posted on usually has a copyright reporting process; keeping your originals and their file details helps show the photos are yours.
One AiArter note: Trial images carry a small “Made with aiarter” mark; paid plans export clean files you can use commercially.
More free editing guides are in our photo editing how-tos, including how to remove objects from photos.
Frequently asked questions
How can I watermark my photos for free?
Use a free browser watermark maker: add your text or logo, set opacity and position, and download. AiArter's watermark maker does up to 20 photos at once with no sign-up.
Can I put a watermark on eBay listing photos?
No. eBay's picture policy doesn't allow watermarks of any type, including ones used for ownership attribution. Upload clean photos.
What opacity should a watermark be?
About 30–50% for a corner mark. Go lower on busy photos and higher on plain backgrounds.
How do I add my logo as a watermark?
Save the logo as a PNG with a transparent background, upload it in a watermark tool, set its width and opacity, and place it in a corner.
Can I watermark photos on my iPhone?
Yes. Photos' Markup tool adds text to one photo. For a logo, a see-through mark or a batch, use a watermark maker in Safari.
Make marketplace-ready product images and branded social versions from the same photo.
Start free trialSee pricing7 days free · 50 credits · No credit card. Trial images carry a small “Made with aiarter” mark; paid plans export clean files you can use commercially.
