Watermark
A semi-transparent logo or text overlaid on an image to indicate copyright ownership and deter unauthorized use.
A watermark is a visible or invisible mark embedded in an image to assert copyright and discourage unauthorized reproduction. Visible watermarks overlay logos or text at 20-40% opacity, while invisible (digital) watermarks encode information directly into pixel data without perceptible alteration.
Effective placement for visible watermarks is near the image center, where cropping cannot easily remove them. However, overly prominent watermarks diminish viewing experience, so balancing visibility with protection is essential.
The text overlay tool can add semi-transparent text to any image, functioning as a simple watermark. Stock photo services typically display heavily watermarked previews and deliver clean originals without alpha channel overlays after purchase.