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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo watermark an existing PDF in Node.js, use pdf-lib: load the PDF, embed a PNG or JPEG, draw that image on each page you want marked, and save the result. The example below places a faint, proportionally scaled image in the center of every page. You can change the placement, size, opacity, rotation, and target pages to fit your document.
Use pdf-lib to watermark an existing PDF
pdf-lib documents loading and modifying existing PDFs, embedding PNG or JPEG image data, and drawing images on pages. That makes it a direct fit when you already have a PDF and want to add a logo or ownership mark. The steps below use Node’s built-in file system API and an ES module import. Check your project’s module configuration if it uses CommonJS rather than ES modules.
- Install the package with
npm install pdf-lib. - Put the source PDF and a PNG watermark image beside the script, named
input.pdfandwatermark.png. - Save the script below as
watermark.mjsand runnode watermark.mjs. - Open
watermarked.pdfand inspect representative pages before using the output in a production workflow.
import fs from 'node:fs/promises';
import { PDFDocument, degrees } from 'pdf-lib';
async function main() {
const pdfBytes = await fs.readFile('input.pdf');
const imageBytes = await fs.readFile('watermark.png');
const pdfDoc = await PDFDocument.load(pdfBytes);
const watermark = await pdfDoc.embedPng(imageBytes);
for (const page of pdfDoc.getPages()) {
const { width, height } = page.getSize();
const imageSize = watermark.scaleToFit(width * 0.25, height * 0.25);
page.drawImage(watermark, {
x: (width - imageSize.width) / 2,
y: (height - imageSize.height) / 2,
width: imageSize.width,
height: imageSize.height,
rotate: degrees(0),
opacity: 0.2,
});
}
const outputBytes = await pdfDoc.save();
await fs.writeFile('watermarked.pdf', outputBytes);
}
main().catch((error) => {
console.error('Could not watermark the PDF:', error);
process.exitCode = 1;
});The sample embeds the image once, then draws it on every page returned by getPages(). It uses each page’s own dimensions, so pages with different sizes are handled individually. The 25% fit box and 20% opacity are starting values, not universal recommendations; adjust them after reviewing the output at normal reading size and in print.
Control the image, position, size, and appearance
Choose PNG or JPEG
For a PNG image, use embedPng(imageBytes), as in the example. For a JPEG, use embedJpg(imageBytes) instead. The documented embedding methods also accept base64 strings or data URIs, as well as Uint8Array and ArrayBuffer inputs. Node’s fs.readFile() returns bytes suitable for the example.
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A PNG is a practical choice for a logo when you need transparent areas around its visible mark. pdf-lib’s documentation establishes PNG support but does not establish behavior for every transparency edge case, so inspect your chosen image in the saved PDF rather than assuming every source image will render as intended.
Set placement deliberately
drawImage takes explicit x, y, width, and height values. The sample centers the image by subtracting its fitted dimensions from the page dimensions. To put a logo in a corner, replace the centering expressions with your chosen offsets, then test across portrait, landscape, and differently sized pages.
scaleToFit(maxWidth, maxHeight) returns dimensions that fit inside the supplied box while preserving the image’s proportions. This is safer than assigning a width and height independently when the source logo is not square. If you want a larger or smaller mark, change the fit-box multipliers; if you want a diagonal mark, set rotate to a value such as degrees(35) and inspect the result for clipping.
Change opacity and rotation
The drawing options support opacity and rotate. Lower opacity makes the image less prominent; zero rotation leaves it level. The example imports degrees from pdf-lib and passes degrees(0). Use a modest opacity for a watermark intended to sit behind readable content, but choose the value from a visual review rather than treating the example’s value as a standard.
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Apply the image to selected pages
To mark every page, keep the loop over pdfDoc.getPages(). To limit the operation, select pages from that array before drawing. Array indexes are zero-based in JavaScript, so a user-facing page number of 1 corresponds to index 0. For example, to draw only on the first page, replace the loop with const page = pdfDoc.getPages()[0]; and perform the same sizing and drawImage calls on that page. Check that the selected page exists before using it, especially when page selection comes from user input.
When PDFKit is a better fit
If your application is creating a PDF rather than modifying an existing one, PDFKit is another option. Its documentation describes JPEG and PNG images supplied as a path, buffer, or base64 data URI, with sizing controls such as width, height, scale, and a fit box. It also supports absolute positioning with x and y; without those coordinates, an image is placed at the current point in the text flow.
The choice depends on the workflow: pdf-lib explicitly documents modifying existing PDFs, while PDFKit’s documentation focuses on creating and laying out documents. Both document PNG and JPEG support. These facts do not establish a universal winner or a performance comparison; choose based on whether you need to edit a supplied PDF or build a new one.
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ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server, not a PDF watermarking library. It does not replace the pdf-lib steps above for adding an image to an existing PDF. If the separate task is capturing a website as an image, a single request can return a screenshot:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for its request options. ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie and consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; those steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides screenshot, page-information, and PDF-capture tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. For website capture, visit ScreenshotNeo or sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month with no card.
Troubleshooting and operational checks
The script cannot find an input file
fs.readFile() resolves relative paths from the process’s current working directory, which may differ from the script’s directory. Run Node from the folder containing the files, or provide explicit paths. Confirm the filenames and letter case match exactly.
The image embedding call fails
Check that the file is actually a supported PNG or JPEG and that the method matches its format: embedPng for PNG, embedJpg for JPEG. A renamed file does not convert its contents. If the input is base64, provide a supported base64 string or data URI rather than passing an unrelated string as though it were a local path.
The watermark is misplaced or too large
Confirm that the calculation uses the current page’s width and height, and that the image’s fitted dimensions are used consistently for both positioning and drawing. Review pages of different orientations and sizes; a placement tuned on one page may not look right on another. Reduce the fit-box multipliers or opacity if the mark competes with the document content.
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The output is missing or cannot be opened
Ensure the script reaches pdfDoc.save() and that the process has permission to write watermarked.pdf in the destination folder. The example’s error handler prints the failure and sets a nonzero process exit code. Keep the source file unchanged and test the generated output in a PDF reader before replacing any original.
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Large or unusual PDFs need validation
PDF size, processing time, and compatibility depend on the specific documents and runtime; the cited documentation does not provide benchmark figures or guarantee behavior for encrypted files, digital signatures, or every unusual PDF feature. Test with representative inputs, including the page sizes, image type, and orientation used in your application. Treat a signed document as a special case: do not assume that editing and saving it preserves a prior signature’s validity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Performance, reliability, and cost considerations
This workflow reads the PDF and image into memory, loads the document, adds the image to selected pages, and serializes a new PDF. For large input files or batches, measure memory use and elapsed time with your own representative documents; no performance benchmark is established here. Embedding once and reusing the same image object across the page loop avoids repeating the embed call in the example.
For reliable processing, write to a new output path rather than overwriting the source, handle read, load, embed, and save errors, and validate output before making it available to users. Keep the original image and PDF available for retries. If your application accepts uploads, also apply the file validation and resource limits appropriate to your service; this example is a local-file workflow, not an upload security policy.
pdf-lib is a software dependency installed through npm; the documented approach does not involve per-page service billing. pdf-lib’s documentation does not establish a specific package version or guarantee behavior across all PDFs, so check the package’s current documentation and verify your project’s import style and sample output.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can an image watermark be added to only the first page?
Yes. Select the first page from pdfDoc.getPages() and draw the embedded image on that page rather than looping over the full page array.
Can I use the same watermark image on different page sizes?
Yes. Calculate placement and fit dimensions from each page’s own size, as the example does. Review the result on each page geometry used by your PDFs.
Does adding a watermark make it impossible to remove or copy?
No such protection is established by this workflow. It draws an image into the PDF; do not treat that as a guarantee against removal or copying.
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