Watermark PDF API
Add text or image watermarks to PDFs programmatically.
No credit card requiredWatermark PDF API Overview
Our Watermark PDF API allows you to apply text or image watermarks to existing PDF documents as part of an automated document workflow. It is designed for use cases where PDFs need to be clearly labeled, branded, or protected before being shared, reviewed, or distributed.
Watermarks can be used to indicate document status (such as Draft or Preview), discourage unauthorized sharing, or apply consistent branding across generated documents. The API works on server-side PDFs and integrates easily into existing systems without requiring custom PDF manipulation logic.
This endpoint can be used as a standalone operation or combined with other PDFGate endpoints. A common workflow includes generating a PDF from HTML, applying a watermark for review purposes, and later producing a final, unwatermarked or secured version for distribution.
The Watermark PDF API is suitable for SaaS platforms, internal business tools, and document automation systems that need reliable, repeatable watermarking without manual intervention.
Useful Guides
Quick Start
Get started quickly with a single API call. This endpoint fits easily into your existing workflows and works with any language that can make HTTP requests, including Node.js, Python, PHP, and more. Use the examples to get started in just a few steps.
curl -X POST "https://api.pdfgate.com/watermark/pdf" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-F "file=@YOUR_FILE.pdf" \
-F "type=text" \
-F 'text=My watermark!' \
-F 'fontColor=rgb(156, 50, 168)' \
-F "rotate=30" \
-F "opacity=0.2" \
--output watermarked.pdf
API Parameters
File
The PDF file you want to apply the watermark to. You must provide either this or documentId.
Document Id
The ID of a PDF that already exists in your PDFGate account. Use this instead of uploading a file again.
Watermark
The image file used as a watermark (.png, .jpeg, .jpg). Required if you are adding an image watermark.
Font File
A custom font file (.ttf or .otf) to use for text watermarks.
Type
Defines the watermark type. Use text for text watermarks or image for image watermarks.
Text
The text that will appear as the watermark. Required when type is set to text.
Font
The font name for the text watermark. Ignored if a custom fontFile is provided.
Font Size
Font size for the text watermark, in points.
Font Color
Color of the text watermark. Can be a hex value (for example #000000) or an RGB value.
Opacity
Controls how transparent the watermark is. Values range from 0 (invisible) to 1 (fully visible).
X Position
Horizontal position of the watermark in points. If not set, the watermark will be centered.
Y Position
Vertical position of the watermark in points. If not set, the watermark will be centered.
Image Width
Width to resize the watermark image to, in points. If omitted, the original width is used.
Image Height
Height to resize the watermark image to, in points. If omitted, the original height is used.
Rotate
Rotation angle for the watermark in degrees (0–360). Useful for diagonal watermarks.
Json Response
If it is set to true, the API will return a JSON response instead of the PDF file.
Pre Signed Url Expires In
Expiration time (in seconds) for the generated temporary download URL.
Metadata
Custom metadata you want to attach to the document.
