How To: Create a Transparent Watermark - Two Different Ways!!

  How To:  Create a Transparent Watermark - Two Different Ways!!

This is a very easy, basic kind of tutorial, so good for those who are beginners, are getting used to the program, or have been away for a while and need a "refresher" course.  In this tutorial I will show you how to make/create a watermark that is transparent, and then save it in .png format so that you can use it over and over, as needed.

This is what we will be making:

Easy level - Basic knowledge of PSP is needed.

This tutorial is my own creation; any resemblance to another tutorial is purely coincidental.

👉👉 Please note, I am using PSP 9 on Windows 10, on a monitor with the following resolution:  1920x1080 .  If you are using a different resolution, you may have to fiddle with certain settings - like resize - to get a look that is good to you.  The settings I give are based on my own resolution. 👈👈

Materials Needed

1.  Paint Shop Pro  (I used Version 9, however it can be done on/in any version) 

2.  Font of choice - I am using CAC Futura Casual Bold.  While any font will work, the ones with a little bit of weight (not thin, script-type fonts) work better.

Filters Within PSP That Will Be Used

1.  CutOut  (Way #1)

2.  Drop Shadow (Way #2)

Years ago there used to be a good amount of tutorials that covered this topic however many of them are now gone forever.  So to fill a need that some may have, and to have the basic steps documented, I have created this tutorial.  It's actually pretty basic and doesn't require any filters outside of the ones that come with Paint Shop Pro.  You can make the watermark as simple or as fancy/complex as you would like.  For this tutorial I am going to show you how to do it with just text however know that once you have your watermark image/logo created, the steps to turn it into a watermark are the same.  You can also save the watermark as a brush within PSP, which is another simple process and I will create tutorial later on how to save custom-made brushes.

On to the tutorials!

Way #1

1.  Install the font(s).  (Alternative:  You can open and minimize the font; it should show in PSP.  I use a font program called Cfont Pro - it temporarily installs the font and will uninstall it when you shut down your computer.)

2.  Open a new file, 500 pixels x 300 pixels, 100 ppi, transparent.  (Don't worry, we'll be able to crop down and resize it later.)  

In your materials palette, set both the foreground and background to black.

3.  With your text tool active, in the toolbar, use these settings (or somewhat close to these, depending on the font you are using):

(click on this to enlarge)

4.  With the text tool, write out what you wish for your watermark.  I am using the word "watermark" for this tutorial.

Once satisfied with what you have, click the APPLY button.  Then go to Objects > Align > Center of Canvas.

5.  In the layers palette, right click on the layer with text, then go to Convert to Raster Layer.

Watermark-ss5-WR2026.jpg

You should now have something like this (minus the "Tutorials by WillowRaven" watermark LOL):

6.  Go to Selections > Select All.  Selections > Float.  Selections > Defloat.  You should see marching ants around your text:

7.  On your layers pallette, click on the text layer and choose "Promote Selection to Layer":

8.  On the promoted layer, click on your Delete button.  Go to Effects > 3D Effects > Cutout

and use these settings:

If you wish you can also change the Vertical to 1 and the Horizontal to -1 if you would like a bit more "depth" to your watermark.  You don't want it too dark - just enough so you can see it, however it still has some transparency.

You will now have a layer with your text, and the promoted layer with the watermark.  If you hide the text layer, you will see the watermark layer with the marching ants:

10.  At this point, go to Selections > Select None.  This will remove the marching ants.  You may crop it to your desired size.  I try to keep it cropped as close to the watermark as possible, without cutting off anything:

11.  Save in png format, and you are done.  You can now use it by Copy > Paste > As New Layer  to your image/tag.  Once applied, you can fiddle around with the layer settings to achieve a desired look (I just used a pattern file from my Materials Pallette for my "image").  The Raster 2 layer is the watermark layer with different layer properties - some examples:

👉👉 Please note that you can also save the black text/image you used in a png format as well (just hide the watermark layer), if you wish to use it later, or to modify your current watermark, or create another one that incorporates what you have already used. 👈👈

Way #2

1.  For this you will do the same thing as Way #1 until Step #7.  You will complete #6 so you have the marching ants around your text.  Go to Selections > Invert, then click on your Delete button.

2.  Go to Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow and apply these settings:

If you wish, you can fiddle around with the numbers if you don't like this look.  You don't want it too dark - just enough so you can see it, however it still has some transparency.

3.  Again, as in Step 8 (above), If you close off the layer with the text, you'll be able to see your 'watermark' layer on the promoted layer.

4.  At this point, go to Selections > Select None.  This will remove the marching ants.  You may crop it to your desired size.  I try to keep it cropped as close to the watermark as possible, without cutting off anything:

5.  Save in png format, and you are done.  You can now use it by Copy > Paste > As New Layer  to your image/tag.  Once applied, you can fiddle around with the layer settings to achieve a desired look (I just used a pattern file from my Materials Pallette for my "image").  The Raster 2 layer is the watermark layer with different layer properties - some examples:

👉👉 Please note that you can also save the black text/image you used in a png format as well (just hide your watermark layer), if you wish to use it later, or to modify your current watermark, or create another one that incorporates what you have already used. 👈👈

And you are done!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you learned - or relearned - something!

Happy creating.