Add a watermark

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Overview
• AI watermarks
• Creating your own watermark
• Uploading your watermark to your account
• Applying a watermark to a photo job
• Change your watermark later
• FAQs
• The takeaway

Overview

Adding a watermark to your proofing shop helps protect your work by discouraging unauthorized downloads and preserving image value. While GotPhoto applies a default watermark, you can add your own branded watermark for greater impact. In this guide, we’ll walk you through: adding your own watermark, managing watermark options, and applying watermarks to your photo jobs in GotPhoto.

AI watermarks

Your account includes three AI‑resistant watermarks:

• Black & white watermark
• Colorful watermark
• Updated AI‑resistant version released April 2025 (recommended)

These watermarks have been extensively tested: they resist removal attempts more reliably than standard designs.

Below is an example of a watermarked image and an AI attempt to remove it:

Black & white watermark Image by Freepik

Colorful watermark Image by Freepik

The default watermark is titled "GP AI Resistant Watermark No Text (Recommended)" and is automatically applied to all new photo jobs when you select a new job type.

Once you customize a watermark for a certain job type, all future jobs of that type will inherit the same watermark automatically, saving you time.

You can also download PSD files of these watermarks for editing and branding from the GotPhoto watermark downloads page (login required). Please keep in mind: It is easier for AI to remove a watermark that includes text than one without. As AI technology is evolving rapidly, we can no longer guarantee that these two older watermarks will effectively protect your photos. However, the default AI resistant watermark offers improved protection.

Creating your own watermark

[Advanced] Create a watermark file as a PNG with a transparent background.

Watch the video below showing Bob Kenward from Fluvanna Sports Photography creating a watermark designed to resist removal:

Uploading your watermark to your account

Go to your GotPhoto dashboard: click Online Shop → Watermarks under the Website or Photo Handling section (depending on the interface version).

Click the blue + Add new watermark button to upload your custom PNG watermark.

Enter a name, upload your PNG file, optionally adjust positioning settings, then click Save.

Your custom watermark is now uploaded and available for use.

Applying a watermark to a photo job

Once your watermark is uploaded, follow these steps to apply it to a specific photo job:

1. Open the photo job and go to the Photo Management tab.
2. Under Step 1, select your desired watermark from the dropdown:
   
3. Click the blue Preview watermark link to see how it looks:
   
4. [Advanced] To create or edit a watermark, go to Settings → Watermark.

Change your watermark later

You can change watermarks on already uploaded pictures at any time. Note that if you change it later, preview images need to be regenerated, which may take extra time.

To change it:

• Go back to the job’s Photo Management area
• Select your new watermark from the dropdown

If the watermark doesn’t appear within 10 minutes, use a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 or Shift+F5) to force the update.

FAQs

Can I reuse a watermark across multiple jobs?

Yes. Once you apply a custom watermark to a job type, future jobs of that type inherit it automatically.

What file format should my watermark be?

Use PNG with a transparent background for best results.

Will changing the watermark affect already-uploaded photos?

Yes. Changing a watermark triggers preview image regeneration, which takes longer than applying it during upload.

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The takeaway

Watermarking your proofing images is a simple yet essential way to protect your work. GotPhoto includes AI‑resistant watermark options by default, and you can add your own branded watermark to help maintain sales value and reinforce your identity.