Problem

This article goes over how to add a Watermark to a SOLIDWORKS Drawing. A watermark is a great tool to help easily display the stage or version of a drawing. Combined with Enterprise PDM, which has the ability to automate the watermark changes throughout a workflow.

Solution

1. Open SOLIDWORKS and start a new Drawing from the desired Drawing Template
2. Open Custom Properties from File > Properties

3. Create a Custom Property called "Watermark" and enter the text to display

   

4. Click "OK" to exit Custom Properties

5. Right-click the drawing sheet to select "Edit Sheet Format"

   

6. Add a note to the sheet format from Insert > Annotation > Note
   

7. In the Property Manager window, click "Link to Property"

   

8. Link to the Watermark property of the current document and click "OK"

   

9. At this point, we can add additional formatting to the watermark, such as angle, patterns, color, and font effects. The example below has been rotated 45 degrees, and changes were made to the font settings.

   

10. Right-click the note and select "Display Note Behind Sheet"

    

11. Exit editing the sheet format by right-clicking the sheet to select "Edit Sheet"

    

12. Go to File > Save As to save over the existing Drawing Template to update it

Now, when we create new drawings, we will see the watermark appear in the background. We can change this watermark as needed by editing the custom property. PDM users can update this custom property during transitions to automatically change the watermark as the drawing file moves through the workflow.

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.