In today’s digital world, protecting your video content and promoting your brand go hand in hand—and adding a watermark is a smart way to do both. Whether you're sharing videos on social media, uploading tutorials, or creating promotional content, a watermark helps identify your work and discourage unauthorized use.

Ready to learn how to put a watermark on a video using Adobe Express? Read on to find out how.

What is a watermark on a video?

A watermark on a video is when unique identifiers such as text, logos and images are embedded over the content to protect it from being stolen. Image-based watermarks use images, and logo-based ones use corporate logos to identify the owner of the content. There are a few different types:

• The transparent logo is see-through and doesn’t obstruct the video.
• Corner branding involves placing small company logos in the corner of the video.
• Full-frame overlays cover the entire screen with branding – useful in instances of strong copyright protection.

Why use watermarks in your videos?

You should use watermarks if you want to protect your content from being stolen and passed off as someone else’s work. Essentially, you’re branding it, so no matter where it’s shared it’s got your mark on it. Wherever people see it, they’ll know it belongs to you. But that’s not all, it’s got other benefits too. They include:

• Brand recognition. Helps users identify your brand, making it more memorable.
• Prevents theft. Deters others from stealing your work as they can’t be removed.
• Ensures credit. Gives you recognition. If your video is shared, everyone can see who made it.
• Professionalism. Adds credibility, giving your content a polished look. It shows viewers that you care about how you present your brand.
• Marketing and reach. Provides details for viewers to follow up with action – for example, it might pique their interest and entice them to visit your website.

How to add a watermark to a video in Adobe Express.

Don’t know how to put a watermark on videos? Don’t fret – it’s simple in Adobe Express. The intuitive design makes it easy for people with no previous experience or knowledge to add watermarks to videos. Follow these steps:

1. Prepare your watermark.

Make sure your watermark is ready before starting the process. Make your own logo easily with the Adobe Express free logo maker. You can add your own text effects with AI. Browse our logo template library to get started. Please note, watermarks should preferably be a PNG with a transparent background.

2. Start your project on Adobe Express.

To start your project, go to Adobe Express, click ‘Video’ under content types, or select ‘Upload your content. Wanting to create a new video from scratch? You can do so with Adobe Express video maker. Now you’re ready to add your watermark to the video.

3. Add your watermark.

Once your video is loaded, head to the ‘Add’ panel to import your logo or add the text. Then, simply drag and drop the element into the video canvas. Once that’s done, resize and position the watermark and customise the opacity and colour to your liking.

4. Customise your watermark timing.

Your watermark will automatically appear for the entire duration of the video initially. But you can change that. Go to the ‘timeline’ editor, select the watermark layer, and set when you want it to appear. It’s great, for example, when you only want to introduce it at the beginning of videos.

5. Preview and download your watermarked video.

Once you’ve added your watermark, click the ‘Preview’ button to see how it looks on your video. It’s a good chance to see if it’s positioned correctly and if it looks good. Once you’re happy, select ‘Download’ and choose your resolution and format. You’re now ready to save and share it on your social media.

Top tips for watermarking your videos.

Watermarking is a smart idea, after all. Imagine putting effort into making a video and someone steals it and passes it off as their own. It helps to prevent that, but doing it correctly requires attention to detail. Here’s a look at what is important and other things to consider when putting a watermark in your video:

• Keep it subtle but visible. Use low opacity or soft colours so your watermark doesn’t distort the actual content.
• Use consistent branding. Stick to the same logo, colours, and font styles on all your videos for a professional look.
• Place in a corner. Avoid obstructing main visuals by putting them in the corners of the video.
• Avoid watermarking over faces or key visual content. Make key parts of content visual, you don’t want people to be distracted by your watermarks.
• Consider using animations if the project would benefit. Fade it in or out for an aesthetic touch.
• Resize according to different platforms. Edit the proportions according to the sizes relevant to each platform. For example, long-form YouTube videos may be a different size from Instagram ones.

Create exciting watermarks with the AI text effect tool from Adobe Express.

Enhance your watermark with a personal touch using the Adobe Express AI text effect tool. Rather than using pre-existing fonts, you can enter prompts into the tool and watch the AI bring custom-made ones to life.

If you’re a travel agency and looking to craft beach holiday promotion videos, you could create a sandy beach-style font. Or you might make your YouTube channel’s name in glowing text. And add your brand name to Instagram reels. The possibilities are endless.

Simply enter what you like – Adobe Express takes care of bringing it to life. It’s fully editable, so if you’re not happy with the first suggestions you can keep refining it until you’re satisfied.

Let your creativity run wild with Adobe Express.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

How do I add a watermark to an iPhone video?

To add a watermark to an iPhone video, simply upload the video to Adobe Express, then add your text or logo as an overlay. Resize and adjust the position to your preference, and export.

How do I add a logo to my video?

To add a logo to your video, start a new video project and upload your clip. Then select the ‘Add’ option to import your logo file. Please note, this works best with PNG files on a transparent background. Then place it where you like on the video, adjusting the proportions accordingly.

Where should a watermark be placed on a video?

You should look to place a watermark in the corners of the video – out of sight of the main central area. Top right or top left works best, as viewers generally scan from top down rather than bottom up. Doing this prevents the watermark from blocking the main content in the middle.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features, including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.