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.

Adding a Horizontal Watermark with a PostScript Printer

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 13, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007 and 2010


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.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Shading a Cell Until Something is Entered

Conditional formatting provides the opportunity to get very creative with your formatting. One such creative urge can be ...

Discover More

Adding a Tool to Clear Borders

Excel allows you to easily add tools to the Quick Access Toolbar. If you want to add a tool that clears all the borders ...

Discover More

How Excel Stores Dates and Times

Excel stores dates and times internally using what is called a serial number. This tip explains how that serial number is ...

Discover More

Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Printing the Navigation Pane

The Navigation pane can be a handy tool for seeing the overall organization of your document and easily moving to ...

Discover More

Remembering Copies to Print

If you routinely need to print more than one copy of a document, you'll love the ideas presented in this tip. There's ...

Discover More

Reversing Print Order

When you print a document, does it come out of the printer in the order you need? Here's how to reverse the print order ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 7 - 4?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.