Adding an Image Watermark in Shotcut Video, or a Text Watermark

To add a small watermark throughout your entire video in Shotcut, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Shotcut and Create a New Project
   Launch Shotcut, set your project name and video mode (resolution and frame rate), then start the project.
2. Add Your Main Video to the Timeline
   Drag your main video clip onto the first video track (usually Track V1).
3. Add a New Video Track for the Watermark
   Right-click in the timeline area and select “Track Operations” > “Add Video Track” to create a new track above your main video track.
4. Import Your Watermark Image or Logo
   Drag and drop the watermark image (preferably a PNG with a transparent background) into the new video track (Track V2). Extend the length of this image clip to match the entire duration of your main video by dragging its right edge.
5. Resize and Position the Watermark
   Select the watermark clip on the timeline, then go to the Filters panel and click the “+” icon. Add the “Size, Position & Rotate” filter.
   Use the preview window to resize the watermark smaller and drag it to the desired corner or position on the screen.
6. Adjust the Opacity to Make It a Watermark
   While the watermark clip is still selected, add another filter by clicking the “+” icon and choosing “Opacity”.
   Reduce the opacity slider to make the watermark semi-transparent and less intrusive (e.g., around 20-40%).
7. Review and Export
   Play back the video to ensure the watermark appears consistently and unobtrusively throughout the entire video. When satisfied, export your video.

This method places the watermark as an overlay on a separate track, visible for the whole video length, allowing easy control over size, position, and transparency.

Additional Tips:

• Use a transparent PNG for best results to avoid color distortion.
• If you want the watermark to be tiled or repeated, you can create a repeated pattern image externally and import it similarly.
• You can also add a text watermark by adding a text filter on the watermark track instead of an image.

This approach ensures your watermark stays visible throughout the video without affecting the original footage quality.

TEXT WATERMARKS

To add a text watermark throughout your whole video in Shotcut, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Your Project and Import Video
   Launch Shotcut, create a new project, then import your video by clicking File > Open File and drag it onto the timeline.
2. Select the Video Clip on the Timeline
   Click on the video clip where you want the watermark text to appear (usually the entire clip).
3. Add a Text Filter
   Go to the Filters panel, click the “+” button to add a filter, and type “text” in the search bar. You will see options like Text: Simple and Text: Rich. Choose Text: Rich for more formatting options.
4. Enter Your Watermark Text
   In the filter settings, type your watermark text (e.g., your name or brand). The text will appear over the video in the preview window.
5. Position and Resize the Text
   Click on the text box in the preview window and drag it to the desired corner or position (commonly bottom-right). You can resize the text box by dragging its edges or corners.
6. Adjust Font, Size, and Opacity
   In the filter settings, customize the font style, size, and color to make the watermark visible but unobtrusive. To make it semi-transparent, reduce the opacity slider within the filter options.
7. Ensure the Text Covers the Entire Clip
   The text filter applies to the selected clip duration, so if you want the watermark throughout the whole video, make sure the clip spans the entire timeline or split the video and apply the filter to each segment.
8. Preview and Export
   Play the video to confirm the watermark is visible and positioned correctly. When satisfied, export your video.

This method adds a text watermark directly on your video without needing an image file and allows easy customization of the text style and transparency

---

Yes, you can easily add plain text as a watermark in Shotcut. Here’s how, along with best practices for making your text watermark effective and non-distracting:

How to Add Plain Text as a Watermark in Shotcut

1. Import your video and add it to the timeline.
2. Select the video clip on the timeline.
3. Go to the Filters panel, click the “+” button, and search for “Text: Simple” or “Text: Rich”.
4. Enter your watermark text (e.g., your name or brand).
5. Resize and position the text by dragging it in the preview window or adjusting the X/Y position and size in the filter settings.
6. Adjust opacity (transparency) by adding an Opacity filter to make the text less intrusive.
7. Extend the filter to cover the entire clip duration so the watermark stays visible throughout the video.

Best Practices for Visible Yet Subtle Text Watermarks

• Use a small font size and place the watermark in a corner (commonly bottom-right) to avoid covering important content.
• Reduce opacity to around 20–40% so the text is visible but not distracting.
• Choose a simple, readable font with a neutral color (often white or gray with a slight shadow for contrast).
• Avoid bold or flashy colors that draw too much attention.
• Add a slight shadow or outline if the text blends into the background, but keep effects minimal.

Keeping a Text Watermark Consistent Across Videos

• Save your watermark settings as a Shotcut preset by clicking the three-dot menu in the filter panel and choosing “Save as Preset” after configuring your text watermark.
• Reuse the preset in future projects for consistent style, size, position, and opacity.

Precise Resizing and Positioning

• Use the filter’s position and size controls for exact placement and scaling.
• Drag the text box in the preview window for quick adjustments, or enter exact pixel values in the filter settings for precision.

Making Your Text Watermark Blend Well

• Lower the opacity so the text is subtle but legible.
• Avoid large, bold, or brightly colored text.
• Position the watermark away from the main action (typically in a corner).
• Test on different backgrounds to ensure visibility without distraction.

By following these steps and best practices, your text watermark will be easy to add, consistent, precisely placed, and visually balanced—protecting your content without detracting from the viewer’s experience