Blackout Watermark and Date in PDF Online For Free

Drop document here to upload
Select from device
Up to 100 MB for PDF and up to 25 MB for DOC, DOCX, RTF, PPT, PPTX, JPEG, PNG, JFIF, XLS, XLSX or TXT
Based on 12500+ reviews
Last updated on Sep 21, 2025

Blackout Watermark and Date in PDF Online with pdfFiller

Learn how to easily add blackout watermarks and dates to your PDF documents using pdfFiller, a cloud-based document management solution that streamlines the process of editing, signing, and collaborating on PDFs.

What is a blackout watermark and date in PDFs?

A blackout watermark is a visually obscuring mark or pattern that is applied to a PDF document to protect sensitive information or maintain confidentiality. By adding a date, users can signify the version or timestamp of when the document was created or last modified. This functionality ensures that viewers understand the time context of the document and that critical information remains secure.

The purpose of adding a blackout watermark and date to PDF documents

Incorporating a blackout watermark serves several purposes. Firstly, it deters unauthorized reproduction of sensitive documents and information by rendering parts of the PDF unreadable. Secondly, the date helps maintain a clear record of document history, making it easier for users to track updates and changes over time.

How to perform blackout watermarking and date adding with pdfFiller: step-by-step

Adding a blackout watermark and date to your PDF using pdfFiller is straightforward. Here’s how:

  1. 1.
    Log in to your pdfFiller account.
  2. 2.
    Upload the PDF document you want to edit.
  3. 3.
    Click on the “Watermark” option in the editing toolbar.
  4. 4.
    Select “Add Blackout Watermark” and customize the size and position.
  5. 5.
    Add the date using the “Text” feature and place it appropriately.
  6. 6.
    Save your changes and download the edited PDF.

Supported file formats for blackout watermark and date with pdfFiller

pdfFiller supports a variety of file formats, allowing you to add blackout watermarks and dates to various document types, including:

  1. 1.
    PDF (.pdf)
  2. 2.
    Word Document (.doc, .docx)
  3. 3.
    Excel Spreadsheet (.xls, .xlsx)
  4. 4.
    Image Files (.jpg, .png)
  5. 5.
    PowerPoint Presentations (.ppt, .pptx)

Can you remove or edit a blackout watermark and date in PDF after adding it?

Once you add a blackout watermark and date in pdfFiller, it can be removed or edited, provided you have the necessary permissions. Simply re-open the document in pdfFiller, navigate to the watermark settings, and make your desired adjustments.

Is a blackout watermark visible on all PDF readers?

Yes, a blackout watermark created with pdfFiller is generally visible across most PDF readers. However, the appearance may vary slightly depending on the software or application used to view the document.

Does a blackout watermark increase the PDF file size?

Adding a blackout watermark may cause a slight increase in the PDF file size, but this is usually negligible. The image used for blackout effects is often minimal in size, ensuring that the increase does not affect the usability of the document significantly.

Why should you add blackout watermarks and dates to PDFs and other files?

Adding blackout watermarks and dates can enhance document security, provide clear timestamps, and prevent unauthorized copying. These features are particularly important in legal, financial, and academic fields where document integrity and confidentiality are paramount.

Benefits of using pdfFiller for applying blackout watermarks

pdfFiller offers a range of benefits for users aiming to add blackout watermarks and dates, including:

  1. 1.
    User-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate.
  2. 2.
    Cloud-based access allows edits from anywhere.
  3. 3.
    Collaboration features let teams work together efficiently.
  4. 4.
    Secure cloud storage for all documents.
  5. 5.
    Variety of customization options for watermarks and dates.

Common use-cases for blackout watermarks across industries

Blackout watermarks and dates serve various industries, such as:

  1. 1.
    Legal: Protect client confidentiality in legal documents.
  2. 2.
    Finance: Safeguard sensitive financial reports and data.
  3. 3.
    Healthcare: Ensure patient data remains confidential.
  4. 4.
    Education: Maintain integrity of academic papers and exams.
  5. 5.
    Business: Secure internal communications and strategies.

Conclusion

Blackout watermarks and date stamps are essential tools for protecting sensitive information in PDF documents. With pdfFiller's straightforward editing capabilities, users can easily secure their documents while maintaining an organized timestamp for version control. By leveraging pdfFiller’s features, individuals and teams can effectively collaborate and manage their documents in a secure, cloud-based environment.

Try these PDF tools

Edit PDF
Quickly edit and annotate PDFs online.
Sign
eSign documents from anywhere.
Request signatures
Send a document for eSignature.
Share
Instantly send PDFs for review and editing.
Merge
Combine multiple PDFs into one.
Rearrange
Rearrange pages in a PDF document.
Compress
Compress PDFs to reduce their size.
Convert
Convert PDFs into Word, Excel, JPG, or PPT files and vice versa.
Create from scratch
Start with a blank page.
Edit DOC
Edit Word documents.

Brand your documents with custom watermarks

Add a final touch after editing

Add stamps, dates, and page or bates numbering to ensure PDFs are secure and professional. Customize watermarks by adjusting size, orientation, color, and transparency.
Screen

Clarify your contracts

Avoid confusion when sending documents for review or signing. Stamp them as "Draft", "Final" or "Copy" to add clarity and indicate versions during contract negotiations.
Screen

Share with confidence

Protect documents with watermarks before sharing. Ensure everyone who has access knows their status and owner.
Screen

Organize at a glance

Add watermarks to see which documents are "Drafts", "For Review", or "Archived", saving you from opening the wrong version.
Screen

How to add a watermark to a PDF?

Illustration

1. Upload

Upload your document to pdfFiller and open it in the editor.
Illustration

2. Apply a watermark

Click Watermark at the top to create and customize a watermark.
Illustration

3. Save and export

Apply your changes and choose how to export your document: download, send to cloud storage, save in your account, share, and more.
Upload your document

Who uses this tool?

Learn how professionals use pdfFiller to brand and protect their documents.
Business Owners
Finance
Real Estate
Construction
Healthcare
Education
Legal
Business Owners

Business Owners

Protect intellectual property and maintain brand consistency across all documents. Add a company name to proposals to enhance branding or apply a custom text watermark to internal documents to indicate their status before sharing.
  • Business plans
  • Pitch decks
  • Internal memos
  • Marketing materials
Finance

Finance

Indicate the status of sensitive financial documents to ensure compliance and prevent misuse. Apply text-based watermarks to differentiate between internal review versions and copies intended for client records.
  • Loan agreements
  • Investment contracts
  • Financial statements
  • Tax returns
Real Estate

Real Estate

Brand marketing materials and protect sensitive client information throughout the transaction process. Add an agency name to property listings for brand recognition or apply a text watermark to agreements to clarify their status during negotiations.
  • Purchase agreements
  • Lease contracts
  • Property disclosure forms
  • Inspection reports
Construction

Construction

Safeguard proprietary information when managing project documentation. Apply a protective watermark to project bids before submission or add a status-indicating watermark to blueprints to prevent premature use.
  • Project bids
  • Blueprints
  • Change orders
  • Subcontractor agreements
Healthcare

Healthcare

Protect patient confidentiality and maintain control over sensitive medical records. Apply a custom watermark to patient documents or medical research before sharing to indicate their current status.
  • Patient records
  • Lab results
  • Medical research
  • Billing statements
Education

Education

Manage administrative workflows and control the distribution of study materials. Add a watermark to student records to clarify their official status or stamp submitted applications for better organization.
  • Permission slips
  • Enrollment forms
  • Scholarship applications
  • Unofficial transcripts

Why trust pdfFiller to watermark your documents?

GDPR
AICPA SOC 2
PCI
HIPAA
CCPA

All-in-one solution

Handle all your document tasks in one place. Create and edit PDFs, collect data and signatures, collaborate, and manage files securely in the cloud.

Cloud-native accessibility

pdfFiller is entirely cloud-based and cross-platform, allowing you to access your documents anytime and anywhere, without installing any software or storing files on multiple devices.

Your documents—secured

pdfFiller prioritizes data protection and regulatory compliance through security measures like data encryption and signer authentication.

Watermark PDFs with a trusted, all-in-one solution

Try pdfFiller for all your document management needs.
Upload document

pdfFiller scores top ratings on review platforms

Users Most Likely To Recommend - Summer 2025
Grid Leader in Small-Business - Summer 2025
High Performer - Summer 2025
Regional Leader - Summer 2025
It works good but is clumsy to figure out some things should be easier like saving an altered document to your computer. Currently I have to pretend to print it then in the printer tell it to save as a PDF to my computer instead.
Arvilla H
What do you like best?
I think, best side of this product is variety of tools for updating, signing and sharing my papers.
What do you dislike?
First time it seemed complicated. Not sure, but probably it will be good if you will have a manual, guide book or whatever to help me understand all possibilities.
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?
As a freelance worker, I must use papers for completing contracts, bills and etc.
Administrator in Marketing and Advertising
What do you like best?
I like that I can upload either my own documents or find documents online.
What do you dislike?
The tab feature does not work when I upload my own documents
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Go in and play with it and learn all the functions, otherwise it seems too expensive for simply filling in the blanks.
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?
Everything is legible. When you have the ability to type in fields, of a pre-typed form, other people have an easier time reading.
Katherine Cleveland
much better than trying to fill out… much better than trying to fill out some of these forms by hand or create a form from image using something like Adobe acrobat. Only problem was you should probaby do better quality control on the forms provided. I found your Chapter 7 petition package to be unusable (all or most of the checkboxes use the same variable i.e., check one and you check them all.
David Patrick
Cannot thanks Kara enough Cannot thanks Kara enough. She went above and beyond to help me with my technical issues and spent a lot of time making sure I was happy and had what I needed.
Laura Titman
Banking Faetures This app is excellent and proficient! I´m not the most savvy or experience with software programs this one was easy and accurate! I actually enjoy using it I´ve downloaded other apps but this one was most efficient!
Josette Sanders Young
The platform is able to assist in any… The platform is able to assist in any possible pdf editing that can be required and it is user friendly, it is easy to navigate and work properly.
Petros Mathonsi
It includes everything I needed to do, and then some. Its much more user friendly then even Adobe itself. But, for the price, and my specific needs, it works great.
Matthew K
One and Done PDFfiller is a one and done experience. Sign up one time and that's all. No gimics - no "add-ons" - and you're able to edit your PDF's share them and send them wherever you wants. As easy as that!
Kim
Show more Show less

Watch PDF watermarking in action

Check out this video tutorial to learn how to protect and personalize your PDFs with custom watermarks.

FAQs

If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us anytime!
To apply a Blackout Watermark in PDF using pdfFiller, start by uploading your document to the platform. From there, navigate to the 'Watermark' tool, select the 'Blackout' option and customize its opacity and placement. Ensure that the watermark does not obscure any critical information, as it is essential for balancing visibility with security. A practical tip is to use a consistent watermark style across all your sensitive documents to maintain professionalism and trust.
Removing the Date from a PDF is straightforward with pdfFiller. First, upload the PDF, then select the 'Edit' option. Navigate to the area containing the Date, click on it, and choose the delete option. It’s vital to save the changes to ensure the Date is permanently removed. Remember to check if the original document had any automatic Date settings that might reappear after editing. For future documents, you can use template features to prevent the auto-insertion of Date stamps.
Yes, applying a Blackout Watermark on sensitive documents can enhance security by obscuring confidential information. Using pdfFiller, you can ensure that only authorized personnel can view the underlying content. Always review your watermarked document to confirm that sensitive details are adequately protected. As a precaution, consider utilizing security protocols like password protection for an added layer of security on documents with critical content.
Combining a Blackout Watermark with other annotations in a PDF enhances both security and clarity. In pdfFiller, after applying your Blackout Watermark, you can add comments, notes, or highlighted text. It's crucial to ensure that these annotations are easily readable in conjunction with the watermark. A helpful tip is to review the entire document in preview mode after making changes to confirm the visibility of both the watermark and annotations.
Yes, pdfFiller allows for document automation, including the addition of Blackout Watermarks and removing Dates across multiple PDFs. You can set up templates that automatically apply these features when processing similar documents. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency in handling sensitive materials. Make sure to regularly update your templates to reflect any changes in branding or compliance standards.
Unlike traditional watermarks, a Blackout Watermark provides a higher level of content protection by fully obscuring sensitive information. In addition to ensuring security, it can also deter unauthorized copying or sharing of documents. Using pdfFiller’s advanced features, you can customize your Blackout Watermark to suit your organizational needs. A valuable strategy is to use this watermark in combination with other protective measures, such as adjusting document permissions.
To verify that your Blackout Watermark is effectively applied, download the edited PDF and open it in various PDF viewers to check for visibility and consistency. Ensure the watermark does not interfere with the document's overall readability. Utilize pdfFiller's preview function before finalizing your document to catch any issues early. Keeping a checklist for watermark application can streamline this verification process and enhance document security.

Watermark PDFs with a trusted, all-in-one solution

Try pdfFiller for all your document management needs.
Upload document