Adding a watermark

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

I try to add a watermark on my pdf files but the watermark is not vivible.

Why is that?

[Test Screen Name]

Some PDF files have a solid, hidden background and watermarks behind it are invisible. If this happens, add the watermark in front.

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

This does not happen.
What do we do now?

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[jane-e]

Hi

Show a screen shot of your watermark so we can spot the problem. Also, watermarks can be set to be visible on screen or only when printing. Check that setting.

~ Jane

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

[Bernd Alheit]

May be a problem with the image file. Try a text string.

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

Nothing happens with text string also.

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[Bernd Alheit]

Without an error message?

[jane-e]

For testing purposes, try the same watermark on another PDF.

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

Ok, i tried it to multiple pdf and it has the same problem.


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[jane-e]

“Ok, i tried it to multiple pdf and it has the same problem.”

Here’s what we’re seeing:

• The watermark is having the same problem on other PDFs
• A text-only watermark does not work on this PDF

Time for another test: 

• Can you put any watermark on any PDF?

If not, you might need to reset preferences for Acrobat. And maybe first try quit, reboot, and relaunch.

~ Jane

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

Ok, i tried to older pdfs and there is no problem.
The problem appears only in pdfs i created yesterday.

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[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

This does not happen.

What do we do now?

[Test Screen Name]

Check the opacity setting too. Try 100%. 0% is invisible.

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

Watch the picture more carefully. It is 100% the oppacity. 

It is needed to mention that i did the process of adding a watermark many times without a problem.

Today for some reason, something is not working,

[Test Screen Name]

Ah, you never mentioned that there was an error message "Adobe Acrobat has encountered an unknown error". I can see it in your screen shot now, but not all ways to read the forum get screen shots. Well, this is a very different thing. What is your version of Acrobat exactly (NOT "latest" please)?

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

How can i find it please?

Is it the one that is on the screen shot i just sent to you?

[jane-e]

On Windows, go to Help > About.

[Test Screen Name]

That's the version, thank you, and it seems to be up to date. (Often people find updates have failed).

But one thing puzzles me about your description. You've said nothing happens a few times, but you've also shown us an error message. When you say "nothing" do you mean "nothing but an annoying error message"? This isn't nothing, and the difference is very important (in one case we may be able to help, in another, probably not).

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

First, by pressing the edit button, the error message appears and afterwards, being in the edit panel of adobe nothing happens with the watermark.

[Luke_Jennings · Accepted solution]

Try saving your PDF as a PDF/X-4 before adding your watermark (File> Save as> Format> PDF/X-4). If that doesn't work, try PDF/X-1a.

Also, I suggest you set your Acrobat page display preference for overprint preview to Always.

As a last resort, use a Preflight Fixup to flatten the PDF, then add your watermark.

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

Do you mean Save as>Save as other>Archivable PDF or Press ready PDF? Because what you say does not exist on my acrobat. 

Anyhow, i tried what i found and the programm is not responding...

[Test Screen Name]

Ok, since you got an error, I don't think we can expect any watermark. Need to solve that error (if it is possible to do so), rather than ignore the message. Errors usually mean things failed and didn't finish.  So... let's see what can change. You say the problem happens if you change to watermark text instead of your JPEG is that correct?  How about if the file you work on is a different PDF from some other place - not your normal PDFs, but a test.

[Miltos Lakkotrypis]

I never said anything about changing to watermarm text instead of a jpeg. 

The message appears and then i cannot add a watermark.

This message appeared today.

It is funny when i just paid yesterday my invoice.