How to Apply a Watermark in GIMP: A GIMP Tutorial

1. Go to FILE and OPEN the image you want to watermark.
2. Go to WINDOWS, then select DOCKABLE DIALOGS. Choose LAYERS to open the Layers window.
3. Click the small white rectangle in the lower left corner of the layers window to CREATE NEW LAYER.
4. Name the new layer "WHITE LAYER" and select this layer.
5. Go to the toolbox and select the PAINT BUCKET and the color white. Go to the new "WHITE LAYER" and paint this layer white.

NOTE: If you want to see the new layer to paint it, select the "eye" symbol next to the background (image) layer. This will cause the photo layer to "turn off." Then take the paint bucket and click on the checkered screen of the new layer.

1. Select the WHITE LAYER and then the TEXT TOOL from the toolbox. Choose black as the text color.
2. Choose the font, location, and size you like, then write your watermark text on the white layer.
3. The text will appear as another layer in the layer window. On the TEXT LAYER, select FILTERS, then DISTORTS. Choose EMBOSS from the drop-down menu.
4. Select the TEXT LAYER and change the mode to HARD LIGHT in the drop down area of the layer window.
5. Select the WHITE LAYER in the layer window and change the mode to OVERLAY in the drop down area of the layer window.
6. The watermark will appear on your photo.
7. Select FILE and SAVE AS. Save the image with an identifying name. Export the file when you save it, selecting 100% as the quality level.
   

The "white layer" can be black or any other color: the embossing process is what gives the text the watermark look. Don't fret about the color of this layer, just ensure the text is black!