Watermarks with Pages

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Level 3

742 points

Watermarks with Pages

I am not able to figure out how to add a picture watermark onto a Pages template. I can readily drag a picture from my iPhoto library and incorporate it into a Pages template and write text around it. This isn't what I am looking for. I'd like to have the picture appear "behind" the text I write as a subtle, faded background image,i.e. a watermark, while I type my passage "on top" of the picture.
How to do this?
Thanks kindly .
~ john

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 1, 2007 6:18 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

DennisG

Level 5

6,518 points

Sep 1, 2007 7:04 PM in response to boksey

John,

It's surprisingly easy. Put your image on the page, then (using the Wrap inspector) make sure it's defined as Fixed on Page, and uncheck Object Causes Wrap. Position and size it to your liking. Click on the Graphic inspector, then adjust the opacity slider so that the object fades enough so that you can see text over it. Click on Arrange > Send Backward. That's it. It's even easier using Pages 3.

By the way, if you want the watermark to repeat on every page, define it as a master object.

-Dennis

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Answer 2

boksey Author

Level 3

742 points

Sep 1, 2007 7:48 PM in response to DennisG

Thanks Dennis,
With a little fiddling about, I think I got it to work just fine.
Cheers,
~ John

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Answer 3

WWJD

Level 6

15,830 points

Sep 1, 2007 7:57 PM in response to boksey

You can also adjust the watermark's transparency.

Regards,

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Answer 4

boksey Author

Level 3

742 points

Sep 2, 2007 12:53 PM in response to WWJD

While the result is very good, a surprising number of steps are required to achieve the background visual effect. Another well known software manufacturer's word processing program can accomplish this by one simple function. In the effort to emulate all things Apple, they appear to have out-smarted Pages in this regard. But as has been pointed out, Pages '08 has apparently now improved the way to ad a watermark to one's Template.
Thanks for the very useful suggestions.

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