Tutorial | Simple transparent watermark

Here's a tutorial to make a simple watermark on Photoshop. I'm using an old version, Photoshop CS, but I think the basics are the same with all versions. This is just the way I do it; I'm sure there are other ways out there!

1. Begin by opening a new blank file. It can be any size, but make sure the background contents are transparent.

2. Choose a font and type in what you want your watermark to say. I chose the spicy sushi roll font for this because I just think it's cute. If you want the copyright symbol, I think you have to hold down Alt and type "0169".

3. Next, we have to define this as a brush. Go to Edit, then Define Brush as Preset.

4. Name your brush and hit OK. This will save your brush into your brush folder.

5. Now, open up an image you want to watermark. After all your basic edits and resizing, you are ready to watermark. Go to layer--new--layer, to make a new layer on your image.

6. On your new layer, use the Rectangular Marquee tool to create a band on your image.

7. Next, use your paintbucket tool and fill in white (or any other color you wish).

8. Now, select the brush you made the watermark with. It should be the last brush. You can make it any color. I just chose black for this tutorial. Use this brush to "stamp" on your watermark in the white bar.

9. After you have the watermark how you like it, you can choose how opaque or transparent you want it. Go to the layer in your layers palette, and slide the opacity slider to your liking. I chose around 50%.

10. Finally, flatten your image and save as usual. All done!

***To make things even easier, you can save your brush as a PNG file and upload it to Lightroom as a watermark. Then you can export your images to always have your watermark. Just follow the steps above without using an image: open up a new (transparent) document to be the size you want the band. Stamp in your watermark, save it as a PNG file, upload it to your lightroom watermarks presets, set the position and opacity of the watermark and you're all set!