Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Adding a Horizontal Watermark with a PostScript Printer.
In other issues of WordTips you discovered how to print a diagonal watermark across a page if you are using a PostScript printer. There may be times, however, when you do not want the watermark to be diagonal. The following command, when placed in a field inserted in a header or footer, will print the word DRAFT in a 100-point font across the center of your page.
Print \p page " /Wmark (DRAFT) def /WSize 100 def wp$x wp$right sub wp$left add 2 div wp$y wp$top sub wp$bottom add 2 div translate /Helvetica-BoldOblique findfont WSize scalefont setfont .7 setgray 3 setlinewidth Wmark stringwidth pop 2 div neg WSize .4 mul neg moveto Wmark true charpath stroke "
Remember that all the text shown here must be placed within a field. You can insert the field braces by pressing Ctrl+F9. The font used is bold italics Helvetica; if you do not have that font in your printer, you can change the font name in the code to a font you do have. You can also change the word that is printed by changing the word DRAFT on the first line.
Finally, don't forget that this tip will only work if you are using a printer that understand PostScript and are using a PostScript printer driver with that printer. Some printers understand multiple printer control languages, including PostScript, so it is important to determine which language the printer driver itself uses. If the driver uses a different language, such as the HP Printer Control Language (HPPCL), then the field will not display the watermark.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10307) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Adding a Horizontal Watermark with a PostScript Printer.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
When you create documents that rely on markup (tracked changes and comments), getting usable printed output that includes ...
Discover MoreThe Navigation pane can be a handy tool for seeing the overall organization of your document and easily moving to ...
Discover MoreWhen you process a document in a macro, you may also want to print that document from within the same macro. Here's how ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Comments