pdfMB

ID copy watermark

Write what the copy is for across your ID before you send it. Your files stay on this device.

Need a watermark that keeps the text selectable, for a report or a contract? Add watermark

  • No uploadYour file stays on this device.
  • Your original stays as it isYou download a new copy. Your file is never changed.
  • Free, no sign-upNo account and no daily limit.

What happens to your files

Everything below happens inside your browser, on your own device. Your ID is never uploaded, so nobody else, including us, can see it.

  1. Your browser reads the files. Nothing is sent over the network.
  2. Each page is drawn as a picture, and the watermark is written across it diagonally, repeated so no part of the ID is left clear.
  3. The watermark is burned into the picture. It cannot be removed just by deleting it in a PDF editor, as it could if it were a separate layer on top.
  4. The text is drawn by your browser, so Thai, Chinese, Arabic and other scripts come out correctly.
  5. Photos are turned the right way up, and location or camera details saved inside them are not carried into the PDF.
In short
  1. Choose a PDF or photos of your ID
  2. Type what the copy is for
  3. Press “Add watermark”
  4. Download

How to watermark an ID copy

  1. Choose a PDF or photos of your ID, for example the front and the back.
  2. Type what the copy is for, or tap a quick-fill button. Check the preview.
  3. Press “Add watermark” and download the PDF.
  4. If the PDF is too big for a form, press “Compress this file”.

Why this watermark can’t simply be deleted

In our tests, the watermarks added by common online PDF watermark tools could be stripped with a short script, because they sit on their own layer above the page. The ID copy watermark from pdfMB could not be stripped that way, because it is part of the page picture itself.

Why watermark an ID copy

Stop a copy being reused

A copy that says what it is for is much harder to use for something else, such as opening an account or a phone contract in your name.

Job and school applications

Employers and schools often ask for an ID copy. Mark it for that application only.

Banks, rentals and SIM cards

Landlords, agents and shops keep copies of your ID. Make each copy say where it went.

Visas and travel

Passport copies are sent to agents and hotels. Add the purpose and the date before sending.

What it can’t do

  • Pages become pictures, so text in the result can no longer be selected or searched.
  • A watermark makes misuse harder, but it is not a guarantee. Someone with image-editing skills could still try to paint over it.
  • PDFs protected with a password or against editing are not accepted.
  • The result is bigger than a plain copy, because every page becomes a sharp picture. Press “Compress this file” if you need it smaller.
  • There is one style: diagonal text repeated across the page.

Questions about ID copy watermarks

Can the watermark be removed?

Not by deleting it in a PDF editor, because it is part of the page picture. Like any watermark, it could still be painted over with image-editing software, but that takes effort and leaves traces.

What should I write?

Who the copy is for and why, for example “For job application at ABC Co. only”, plus the date. Be specific: a copy marked for one purpose is hard to reuse for another.

Is my ID uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything happens in your browser, and nothing is sent anywhere.

Does it work with a photo of my ID?

Yes. Phone photos are turned the right way up automatically. Choose A4 to print the copy on a normal sheet of paper.

Can I write in other languages?

Yes. Type the text in any language. Your browser draws it, so every script shows correctly.