A watermark is a recognisable image, pattern, or text that is superimposed onto a digital document to indicate its authenticity, ownership, or source and is also used for branding purposes.
To set up a watermark in artwork, we recommend only using a single colour from the CMYK values and ensuring that the colour is strong enough to be seen once printed.
10% Black (C-0, M-0, Y-0, K-10) is our recommended value as this is light enough to not dominate the artwork and still visible on the final print. This should be displayed on a white-only background for maximum effect. If using a coloured background, then it would be best practice to increase the saturation of the watermark graphic to ensure the colour gets embedded into the paper.
When incorporating a watermark into your design, it's crucial to consider the type of paper stock you intend to use. For instance, uncoated paper tends to absorb ink more, affecting how the watermark appears on the final print. If the watermark's color is too light, it might not display effectively on the printed material.