A watermark is a bit of text [or sometimes an image] that displays “behind” the text on each page and is visible both onscreen and in the printed version of the document. The purpose of a watermark is to display a broad message to the reader about an aspect of the document. For example, a watermark consisting of the “DRAFT” tells the reader that this is not the final version of the document. Similarly, the watermark “ ASAP” tells the reader you want the document handled as soon as possible.
Word offers a number of built-in watermarks. In the Watermarks gallery (choose Page Your, Watermark), for example , you can select from watermarks that use the following text : CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT COPY, DRAFT, SAMPLE ASAP or URENT, each of which you can display diagonally or horizontally across the page.
If none of these predefined watermarks is quite right for your needs, you can build a custom watermark that consists of the text you want to display and the font, size, color and layout you prefer. Here are the steps to follow :
- Choose Page Layout, Watermark, Custom Watermark. Word displays the Printed Watermark dialog box.
- Click Text Watermark.
- Use the Text combo to either select existing watermark text or to type a custom message.
- Use the Font list to select the watermark font.
- Use the Size list to choose a size for the watermark.
- Use the Color palette to choose the watermark text color.
- Click either Diagonal or Horizontal.
- Click OK. Word adds the custom watermark to your document.
If you want to use an image as a watermark instead of text, chose Page Layout, Watermark, Custom Watermark, click the Picture Watermark option, click Select Picture, use the Insert Picture dialog box to click the picture you want to use and then click OK.
