PDF Watermark Remover (Visual Masking in Browser)

Masking a watermark or logo on every page of a PDF

The tool does not delete the watermark from the file: it draws an opaque rectangle in the background colour, or an image of your choice, over the area you selected on the preview, on every page. Processing happens in your browser, the PDF is not sent to any server, and the masked text is still there under the rectangle.

How it works

1. The first page is shown as a preview; you draw, move or resize a box over the element to hide.
2. The box coordinates are converted into PDF points (1 point = 1/72 inch) and applied at the same position, measured from the top of the page, on every page.
3. Automatic colour mode: for each page, the tool reads one pixel 5 points below and to the right of the box and fills the rectangle with that colour. Manual mode: a single colour, white by default. Image mode: a PNG or JPG stretched to the exact size of the box.
4. The file downloads as cleaned_ followed by the original name.

Example

For a 10-page A4 PDF, the preview is rendered at 1,190 × 1,684 pixels (595 × 842 points at scale 2). A 200 × 60 pixel box around a logo becomes a 100 × 30 point rectangle, i.e. 35.3 × 10.6 mm, placed at the same spot on all 10 pages.

Limits

• Masked content is not erased: text remains selectable, copyable and searchable, and the rectangle can be removed in a PDF editor. To truly remove confidential information, use a redaction feature.
• The mask only blends in on a plain background; on a photo or gradient it stays visible.
• A diagonal watermark running through body text cannot be masked without hiding the text too.
• A password-protected or encrypted PDF causes an error.

Legal context

Masking a logo or header on your own documents raises no issue. On someone else's work, knowingly removing or altering rights-management information (author's name, copyright notice, terms of use) to infringe copyright is punishable in France by a €3,750 fine, and distributing the altered work by six months' imprisonment and a €30,000 fine; the European Union and the United States have equivalent rules. This overview is not legal advice.

Sources and dates: Article L335-3-2 of the French Intellectual Property Code, in force since 14 June 2009, referring to Article L331-11; Article 7 of Directive 2001/29/EC; 17 U.S.C. § 1202 in the United States (checked 14/10/2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the masked text really deleted from the PDF?

No. The tool places an opaque rectangle on top and the original content stays in the file: it can be selected, copied or found by a search. For confidential information, use a redaction feature that erases the content.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No: reading, previewing and writing the new PDF all happen in your browser with the pdf.js and pdf-lib libraries. Only the pdf.js rendering script is loaded from a CDN; the document's content never leaves your device.

Can I mask a different logo on each page?

No: the area drawn on the first page is applied at the same position on every page, measured from the top. If the logo moves, process the PDF in several passes or split it first.

Is it legal to remove a watermark from a document?

On your own documents, yes. On someone else's work, knowingly removing a rights notice (author, copyright) to infringe copyright is punishable in France by a €3,750 fine (Article L335-3-2 of the Intellectual Property Code), and 17 U.S.C. § 1202 covers similar conduct in the US. If in doubt, ask the author for permission.

Is this tool really free?

Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.

Is my data protected?

Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.