If you use Luminar AI and would like to add your own text, logo, or signature watermark, it’s easy to do using the Texture tool in Local Masking. In this tutorial, I show how to apply both a PNG and JPEG watermark to your photos using Luminar AI.
Step 1: Create your logo or watermark
The first thing you will need to do is create a separate file with your logo or watermark. You can use either a transparent PNG file or a JPEG file with a white background and black text/graphics/signature (or vice versa if you want your watermark to be white). Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Colored logo: For a colored logo, you will want to have a file that has transparency. My blue Nicolesy logo, for example, is a PNG file with a transparent background.
- Text watermark: To create a text watermark, use a graphics application (such as Photoshop) and make sure that you use a document with a transparent background (it usually will look like a checkerboard). Then, save the file as a PNG with transparency. (You can also use a word-processing application, but will need to convert the image to a JPEG or other image type so that it can be read in Luminar.)
- Signature watermark: I recommend creating a new document in a graphics application with a transparent background and signing on it with your cursor in white, black, or any color you like. Then, save the file as a PNG file with transparency.
- Take a photo of your signature: If you don’t want to use a digital application to create your signature, then you can easily sign your name on a piece of bright white paper (I suggest using a marker or thick black ink). Then, photograph it and save it as a JPEG. Make sure that there is enough contrast in the image so that the background is pure white.
If you don’t have an application to create your own signature or text watermark with, then you can use a free online tool, Photopea. This is an application that is very similar to Photoshop, allowing you to either draw or type in your signature on a transparent background. Save the file as a PNG to make it easy to apply to your image. I also recommend creating your document so that it is a standard horizontal or vertical image photo ratio, this will make it easier to perform the transform adjustment on the texture when it is being placed in Luminar.
Step 2: Open Local Masking
First, make sure you are in the Edit tab. Click “Edit” on the top to get here. Then, access the Local Masking section on the right.
Step 3: Add a Texture
Click the plus icon at the top and select Texture.
Step 4: Add the watermark as a texture
Click Load Texture and navigate to the file you would like to add as a watermark.
Step 5: Place and blend the texture (as needed)
First, set the Opacity to 100. Then click the Place Texture button to transform your watermark and reposition it over your image. When you are finished, click Place Texture again to commit your change.
For a transparent PNG watermark, you will not need to make any adjustments to the Blend setting, unless you wish to play around and experiment with different looks.
If you are adding a JPEG image without transparency (a black or white background), you will need to also set the Blend for your watermark overly. To do this, first, open the Advanced Settings in the Texture tool.
- For a watermark with a black background and white signature, change the Blend to Screen.
- For a watermark with a white background and black signature, change the Blend to Multiply.
Step 6 (optional): Save your watermark as a Template
If you would like to use this on other files, you can easily save your watermark as a Template. Then you are able to apply it to other images.
To do this, click the three dots on the bottom-right of the window and select Save. Then, rename the file by going into Templates > My Templates and click the options to the right of the template. Choose Rename and give your new template a suitable name.
Important notes about creating a watermark template:
- When creating a watermark template, you will want to create a new template for each image ratio you plan on using (such as 1:1, 2:3, 3:2, 4:5, 5:4, etc). Otherwise, the texture file will warp and the perspective will not be correct.
- Also, when adding a watermark template to your image, you will need to apply the template before making other edits in Luminar, as it will clear out any other tools you have applied to your photo. This is a good option for photos you have already edited and exported but would like to export a copy with your watermark.
If you use Luminar AI and would like to add your own text, logo, or signature watermark, it’s easy to do using the Texture tool in Local Masking. In this tutorial, I show how to apply both a PNG and JPEG watermark to your photos using Luminar AI.
Step 1: Create your logo or watermark
The first thing you will need to do is create a separate file with your logo or watermark. You can use either a transparent PNG file or a JPEG file with a white background and black text/graphics/signature (or vice versa if you want your watermark to be white). Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Colored logo: For a colored logo, you will want to have a file that has transparency. My blue Nicolesy logo, for example, is a PNG file with a transparent background.
- Text watermark: To create a text watermark, use a graphics application (such as Photoshop) and make sure that you use a document with a transparent background (it usually will look like a checkerboard). Then, save the file as a PNG with transparency. (You can also use a word-processing application, but will need to convert the image to a JPEG or other image type so that it can be read in Luminar.)
- Signature watermark: I recommend creating a new document in a graphics application with a transparent background and signing on it with your cursor in white, black, or any color you like. Then, save the file as a PNG file with transparency.
- Take a photo of your signature: If you don’t want to use a digital application to create your signature, then you can easily sign your name on a piece of bright white paper (I suggest using a marker or thick black ink). Then, photograph it and save it as a JPEG. Make sure that there is enough contrast in the image so that the background is pure white.
If you don’t have an application to create your own signature or text watermark with, then you can use a free online tool, Photopea. This is an application that is very similar to Photoshop, allowing you to either draw or type in your signature on a transparent background. Save the file as a PNG to make it easy to apply to your image. I also recommend creating your document so that it is a standard horizontal or vertical image photo ratio, this will make it easier to perform the transform adjustment on the texture when it is being placed in Luminar.
Step 2: Open Local Masking
First, make sure you are in the Edit tab. Click “Edit” on the top to get here. Then, access the Local Masking section on the right.
Step 3: Add a Texture
Click the plus icon at the top and select Texture.
Step 4: Add the watermark as a texture
Click Load Texture and navigate to the file you would like to add as a watermark.
Step 5: Place and blend the texture (as needed)
First, set the Opacity to 100. Then click the Place Texture button to transform your watermark and reposition it over your image. When you are finished, click Place Texture again to commit your change.
For a transparent PNG watermark, you will not need to make any adjustments to the Blend setting, unless you wish to play around and experiment with different looks.
If you are adding a JPEG image without transparency (a black or white background), you will need to also set the Blend for your watermark overly. To do this, first, open the Advanced Settings in the Texture tool.
- For a watermark with a black background and white signature, change the Blend to Screen.
- For a watermark with a white background and black signature, change the Blend to Multiply.
Step 6 (optional): Save your watermark as a Template
If you would like to use this on other files, you can easily save your watermark as a Template. Then you are able to apply it to other images.
To do this, click the three dots on the bottom-right of the window and select Save. Then, rename the file by going into Templates > My Templates and click the options to the right of the template. Choose Rename and give your new template a suitable name.
Important notes about creating a watermark template:
- When creating a watermark template, you will want to create a new template for each image ratio you plan on using (such as 1:1, 2:3, 3:2, 4:5, 5:4, etc). Otherwise, the texture file will warp and the perspective will not be correct.
- Also, when adding a watermark template to your image, you will need to apply the template before making other edits in Luminar, as it will clear out any other tools you have applied to your photo. This is a good option for photos you have already edited and exported but would like to export a copy with your watermark.
Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.