File Watermarker

Can I watermark multiple files at once?

Yes. In File Watermarker, select files from Storage, choose a watermark template, and assign recipients. Each PDF or EPUB is stamped with that reader's name, email, or a custom code.

Getting started with File Watermarker

File Watermarker stamps a reader's name and email onto their own copy of your book, so a leaked copy can be traced back to them. Make a copy for one reader 1. Open File Watermarker from the sidebar. 2. Under 1. File Configuration, drop a PDF or EPUB onto the box, click Browse…, or click Choose from Storage to use a file you've already uploaded. 3. Under 2. Watermark Settings, check the Book. It's usually filled in from the file you chose. 4. Enter the Reviewer Name and Reviewer Email. 5. Check the Reviewer Text. This is the exact text stamped onto the file. It fills in from the name and email, and you can edit it. 6. Look at the Preview to see how the stamp will look. 7. Click Apply Watermark. Get the copy to your reader When it's done, 3. Send File lists the new copy. - Click Save… to download it to your computer. - Click Email to send the reader a download link from your connected email account. Without a connected email account you can still make and download copies, but you can't email them from here. Connect Gmail or a custom SMTP account in Settings under Email. Good to know - Files you upload here are saved to your active storage, so you can choose them again later. - Each copy can be downloaded for 30 days, then it's deleted. - To make copies for a whole review team at once, turn on Enable batch mode.

What does the watermark look like in a PDF or EPUB?

Supported files You can watermark PDF and EPUB files. Other file types are refused with Only PDF and EPUB files are supported. PDF copies The stamp text is written once on every page. It runs diagonally across the middle of the page in bold, using the colour and opacity you choose. The text size scales with the page size. EPUB copies The stamp text is added as a small, centred line at the top and at the bottom of every chapter, using your colour and opacity. Reading apps show it as part of the text, so it reflows with the book. Hidden marks Every copy also carries hidden marks that point back to the reader, on top of the visible stamp. They stay in the file even if someone removes the visible stamp. If you find a leaked copy, upload it to Leak Detector to find out whose copy it was. What the text says In single-file mode, the stamp is exactly what's in Reviewer Text. In batch mode, each copy uses the selected Watermark Template with the reader's details filled in. Templates can use two placeholders: - {{name}} for the reader's name - {{email}} for the reader's email For example, the built-in Review Copy template is REVIEW COPY - {{name}} - {{email}}. File names Each copy is named after your file plus the reader's name, so you can tell them apart. For example, my-book-Jane_Smith.pdf.

How do I change the watermark text, opacity and colour?

Watermark templates The Watermark Template list has three built-in choices: - Review Copy: REVIEW COPY - {{name}} - {{email}} - ARC: ARC - {{name}} - {{email}} - Proof: PROOF - {{name}} - {{email}} To write your own wording: 1. Choose Custom… in Watermark Template. 2. Type your text. Use {{name}} and {{email}} where the reader's details should go. 3. To reuse it, choose ── Save current as template ── and give it a name. It appears under My Templates next time. To rename or delete your own templates, click Manage Templates. Opacity Opacity goes from 10% to 100%. The default is 30%. Above 50%, you'll see a warning, because a strong stamp can get in the way of reading. Colour Choose from Slate, Gray, Red, Green, Blue and Teal. The default is Gray. Checking the result The Preview shows the stamp with your settings. In batch mode, click a recipient in the list to preview their copy. If every file you've chosen is an EPUB, the Opacity and Color settings are hidden.

How do I email a watermarked copy and start a follow-up sequence?

After you click Apply Watermark, your copies appear under 3. Send File. The line Will be sent from: shows which email account they'll go out from. Email a copy 1. Click Email next to the copy. 2. Choose an Email Template. The default is ARC Delivery (Default), which you can edit in Email Templates. 3. Check the Email Subject and Email Body. 4. Click Send & Mark Sent. The reader gets a Download Your ARC Copy button, plus a plain link to paste if the button doesn't work. The file is a download link, not an attachment, and the link works for 30 days. What happens in ARC Tracker Sending a copy updates the reader's row in ARC Tracker, or adds a new row if they aren't there yet. The row is set to Sent with today's date, and the file is linked to it. Rows already marked Reviewed or Not Reviewed keep their status. If the reader has more than one row for the same book, you'll be asked Which ARC entry?. Pick one, or choose Add as a new entry instead. Start a follow-up sequence 1. Before you send, choose a sequence in Initiate Email Sequence. Only sequences with the ARC Sent trigger that are switched on are listed. 2. If you just made one, click Refresh list. 3. The button next to each copy now reads Email + Sequence. Sending starts that sequence for the reader. To create a sequence, click Manage sequences →. Copies you made earlier - Recent Watermarked Files lists copies you haven't sent yet. - Sent Files lists copies you've emailed. Each list shows your 12 most recent copies, with the date each was made and emailed. You can email or download them from here.

How do I import batch recipients from a CSV file?

In batch mode you can load your whole review team from a CSV file instead of typing each person. Format the file Use two columns, name first and email second: Name,Email Jane Doe,[email protected] John Smith,[email protected] Click Download sample CSV to get a file in this format. Only rows where the second column contains an @ are imported. The header row is skipped for that reason. Names can't contain commas, so write Smith Jane rather than Smith, Jane. Import the file 1. Turn on Enable batch mode. 2. Click Import CSV and choose your file. 3. Check the recipients list. To add someone by hand, click + Add recipient. 4. Add your files with + Choose files from Storage, or + Add more files. 5. Click Apply Watermark. Each person gets a copy of each file you added. Limits You can watermark for up to 50 recipients at a time. For a bigger team, split your list into groups of 50 or fewer and run each group separately.

Why won't my file watermark or send?

Apply Watermark is greyed out - Single file: choose a file, and fill in Reviewer Name, a valid Reviewer Email and Reviewer Text. - Batch mode: add at least one file and at least one recipient. Only PDF and EPUB files are supported. Convert your book to PDF or EPUB, then try again. The file is too large You can upload files up to 200 MB. To be watermarked, though, a file must be 50 MB or smaller. If you see Source file too large, make a smaller version of the file, for example by compressing its images. Maximum 50 recipients per request You can watermark for up to 50 people at a time. Split your list into smaller groups. A reader is missing from the results If one person's copy fails, the others still finish and that person is left out. Check their name and email, then run them again on their own. With PDFs, special characters such as emoji in the stamp text can cause this, so try simpler text. The CSV didn't import anyone Check that the email is in the second column and contains an @. See the article on importing batch recipients. The download link has expired Copies can be downloaded for 30 days. After that, the reader sees a message that the link has expired. Make a fresh copy and send it again. In ARC Tracker, the File Delivered column shows Expired for these. You can't email a copy You need a connected email account to send from here. The page shows a banner when none is connected. Connect Gmail or a custom SMTP account in Settings under Email. Until then you can still click Save… to download copies. Errors when sending - Your Gmail connection has expired. Reconnect Gmail in Settings and try again. - SMTP is not connected for this account. Connect it in Settings. - Rate limit exceeded. You can send up to 30 emails a minute. Wait a minute and try again. No sequences to choose from Initiate Email Sequence only lists sequences with the ARC Sent trigger that are switched on. Create or switch one on in Email Sequences, then click Refresh list.