PROMPT GUIDE

How to Add a Watermark to Images, with Tips for Social Media

A watermark is a name or logo laid over an image to show whose work it is. Many people who post AI art or photos on social media use one. Too strong and it gets in the way; too faint and nobody notices. This guide shows how to add a watermark that looks just right on social media.

Last updated: 2026-10-22 approx. 3 min read

日本語版

The short answer

The basic watermark is your name or site URL in a faint color (about 20 to 40 percent opacity) near an edge where it does not cover the art. Choose a spot that survives social media crops, and keep an unwatermarked original.

How do you add a watermark to an image? (The basics)

Put your name or URL in a faint color near an edge where it does not cover the art.

You can add a watermark with the text or image layer feature of any image editor. Phone apps work too: add text and lower its opacity. What matters is where, how faint, and what you put in it. Too eye-catching and it distracts viewers; too faint and you will not be credited if the image is cropped and reused.

Decide	Recommended	Note
Position	Bottom right or bottom left (slightly inside the edge)	Check it is not cut off by social media crops
Strength	About 20 to 40 percent opacity	A little stronger on bright areas, white on dark areas
Size	About one eighth to one fifth of the image width	Check it is readable on a phone
Text	Name, account name or site URL	One short item
Color	White, black, or a color that blends with the background	A thin outline or soft shadow keeps it readable

Portrait anime girl illustration for social media, an example for placing a watermark — 縦長の投稿用イラスト

Wide anime illustration of a girl on a riverbank at sunset, a watermark goes in the corner — 縦長の投稿用イラスト

Illustration usage rules

What are the steps to add a watermark?

Keep the original, place faint text near the edge, and check how it looks on social media.

Steps to add a social media watermark

Save the original image without a watermark (so you can edit it later)
Place your name, URL or logo in an image editor or app
Lower the opacity to about 20 to 40 percent and match the color to the background
Place it at the bottom right or bottom left, slightly in from the edge
Check that the watermark survives the crop previews on X, Instagram and other sites
Export, then resize for social media with the image compressor

Rinka's tips

Instagram can crop to square or 4:5, so a spot too close to the edge disappears easily
Do not cover faces or key parts. Let viewers enjoy the picture first
Use the same position and size every time so people remember it as your mark

How to make an illustration for your social media icon: Icon Prompts: Making Square Close-Up Avatars for Social Media →

How is a watermark different from metadata?

A watermark is a visible mark on the picture; metadata is hidden information inside the file.

Metadata can include the shooting date, camera details, or the prompt used to make an AI image. Posting to social media usually removes metadata, but a watermark stays because it is part of the picture. If you do not want others to see your prompt, remove the metadata before posting. Re-saving with the image compressor on this site leaves no metadata.

Point	Watermark	Metadata
Visible?	Visible on the picture	Hidden (read with a tool)
After posting to social media	Stays	Usually removed
Contents	Name, logo, URL	Camera data, generation data and more
How to remove	Only by redrawing the picture	Re-saving removes it

What are common watermark mistakes? (Fixes)

Too strong, too large, or cut off by crops are the three usual mistakes.

Problem	Cause	Fix
The watermark stands out more than the art	Too opaque or too large	Lower the opacity and shrink it to about one eighth of the width
It blends into the background	Its color is close to the background	Use white or black with a thin outline
It gets cut off on social media	It sits too close to the edge	Move it inward and check the crop preview
The watermark text looks blurry	It was added to a small image that was then enlarged	Add it at the final size and do not enlarge after exporting
You cannot edit the original anymore	Only the watermarked version was kept	Always save an unwatermarked original separately

What should you watch for when watermarking AI illustrations?

Labeling a picture as AI-made is separate from the watermark; follow the rules of the site you post to.

Some posting sites require you to mark AI-made works with a setting or tag. Rules change, so check the official guidelines
Putting "AI" in your watermark is up to you, but saying it in the description or tags is clearer
Never remove someone else's watermark or replace it with yours

Settings for posting AI illustrations on pixiv: How to Post AI Illustrations on pixiv: Settings and Tags →

How to use an AI eraser to remove unwanted objects: How to Remove Unwanted Objects with an AI Eraser (Tips for Clean Results) →

Copy-paste: example watermark text

Keep it short and make it clear whose work it is. Replace the parts in brackets.

© [your name] 2026

[account name] / [site URL]

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I put a watermark on an image?

Near the bottom right or bottom left, moved slightly in from the edge. Check before posting that it survives social media crops.

How faint should a watermark be?

About 20 to 40 percent opacity is a good guide: visible when you look, but not in the way. Adjust slightly for the brightness of the background.

If I add a watermark, do I still need to care about metadata?

They do different jobs. A watermark is a mark on the picture; metadata is information inside the file. Remove metadata if you do not want your prompt seen.

Should I watermark AI illustrations too?

It is up to you, but it helps people know whose work it is when it spreads. Label AI-made works according to the rules of the site you post to.