My transparent-background white .png watermark has a weird shadow-like outline in Lightroom 7.0

[Ervins G.]

I am a little lost. When adding a watermark in Lightroom 7.0 (non-classic version), it looks just the way I expect it to in the preview window, but once I click on 'Done' and am back to the 'export' window, my white .png (transparent background) watermark has a weird blackish outline/shadow around the edge of my watermark. 

I played with various resolution .png watermarks; Also playing with the opacity slider does not seem to make a difference (both 100% white or 40% - both have that weird outline;

Adjusting the exportable image's quality does not seem to make a difference (thinking that the 'black outline' is related to pixels and some weird math).

The weird shadow in the exported image:

The preview under "Watermark Settings":

For testing purposes, I reimported the .jpg base image into an .ai file and applied the same .png watermark (same 72ppti) with the same settings, and exported the image as a .jpg - the Illustrator's export doesn't have that weird "shadow" effect around the watermark as Lightroom does. The result is the same as in Lightroom's "Watermark Settings" preview.

I see that when I'm switching between Lightroom's Text / Graphic watermark settings, under the 'Text' there is a 'Shadow' toggle; but there is none under the 'Graphic' setting. I wonder if that is enabled in Lightroom by default and... that is why I'm having issues with getting the result I expect.

Any ideas?

[Ervins G.]

I've found this thread: https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/watermark-a-outline-is-added-to-my-font...
Seems to be the same issue in Lightroom Classic back in February. Shall I assume that Lightroom 7.0 has inherited the bug from Lightroom Classic then?

[Ervins G.]

Just opened the LrC and applied the same watermark in Lightroom Classic v 13.0.1 and... - no issues! The watermark works perfectly as expected in LrC. What's wrong with Lr 7.0?

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Using the instructions you've provided, I am not able to duplicate your results. 

A couple of possibilities:  Verify your GPU drivers are up to date and/or reset Lightroom Desktop's preferences. 

This procedure works for both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Desktop.

If you are using Lightroom Desktop, it can change your local storage location. Please review this setting after resetting preferences. 

Reset Procedure:

1. Close Lightroom.

2. Hold down [Alt/Opt]+[Shift] while restarting Lightroom.

3. Overwrite the Preferences when prompted by the dialog.

4. Close Lightroom.

5. Restart Lightroom.

[Ervins G.]

I am using the latest Lightroom (Lr) version: 

I got the same "shadow" problem on both of my devices:
1. Windows 11, Asus ProArt, i9, RTX 3070Ti (latest GeForce Studio driver)
2. Windows 11, Desktop computer, 13900k, RTX 3090 (latest GeForce Studio driver)

The only solution I've found is exporting images on LrC. Watermarks work there as expected.

 But I am not alright with switching between the programs whenever Lightroom Desktop (7.0) cannot apply the watermark properly. 

I still would like to find a solution to the problem described above so that I can do everything on Ligtroom 7.0 (desktop version) without switching to LrC.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Can you share: 

1.  A copy of the watermark you are using?
2.  A screenshot of the Export settings you are attempting to apply? 

[Ervins G.]

I exported this image from Lr v7.0 and then reimported the same image into LrC 13.0.1 and applied the same watermark.

This is the Watermark:

These are my Lr v7.0 settings:

 

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

This is what I see using your settings and your watermark.

test watermark

It looks correct here.  (tested Mac and Windows)

I am guessing it may be due to a Graphics Driver