Add watermarks to a video with FFmpeg

Adding watermarks to videos is an essential technique for content creators, businesses, and individuals who want to protect their intellectual property or enhance their brand visibility. Whether you're a YouTuber looking to brand your content, a company safeguarding promotional material, or a filmmaker adding production credits, FFmpeg provides powerful tools to add both image and text watermarks to your videos.

Why add watermarks to videos?

There are several reasons why you might want to add watermarks to your videos:

1. Brand recognition: Watermarks help viewers instantly recognize your content.
2. Copyright protection: They deter unauthorized use of your videos.
3. Professional appearance: Watermarks can add a polished look to your content.
4. Source attribution: They ensure proper credit when your videos are shared.
5. Timecoding: For production purposes, you might need to add visible timecodes.

Let's explore how to use FFmpeg to add different types of watermarks to your videos.

Types of watermarks

There are two main types of watermarks you can add to a video:

1. Image watermarks: Typically logos or other graphical elements.
2. Text watermarks: Can be copyright notices, timestamps, or any other textual information.

Adding an image watermark

To add an image watermark to your video, you'll use the overlay filter. Here's a basic command:

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-i watermark.png \
-filter_complex "overlay=10:10" \
output.mp4

Breakdown of the command:

• -i input_video.mp4: Specifies the input video file
• -i watermark.png: Specifies the watermark image file
• -filter_complex "overlay=10:10": Applies the overlay filter, positioning the watermark 10 pixels from the left and top edges
• output.mp4: Name of the output file

Positioning the watermark

You can adjust the position of the watermark using different overlay options:

Bottom right corner

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-i watermark.png \
-filter_complex "overlay=main_w-overlay_w-10:main_h-overlay_h-10" output.mp4

Center of the video

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-i watermark.png \
-filter_complex "overlay=(main_w-overlay_w)/2:(main_h-overlay_h)/2" output.mp4

Adding a text watermark

To add a text watermark, you'll use the drawtext filter. This is particularly useful for adding copyright notices or timestamps. Here's a basic command:

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-vf "drawtext=text='Copyright 2024':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=h-th-10" \
output.mp4

This command adds a copyright notice at the bottom center of the video with a semi-transparent background box.

Customizing text watermarks

You can customize various aspects of the text watermark:

Changing font

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-vf "drawtext=fontfile=/path/to/font.ttf:text='My Watermark':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:x=10:y=10" \
output.mp4

Adding a timestamp

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-vf "drawtext=text='%{pts\:hms}':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:box=1:boxcolor=black@0.5:boxborderw=5:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=10" \
output.mp4

Advanced techniques

Adding both image and text watermarks

You can combine both image and text watermarks for more comprehensive branding:

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-i watermark.png \
-filter_complex "[0:v][1:v]overlay=10:10[bg];[bg]drawtext=text='Copyright 2024':fontcolor=white:fontsize=24:x=(w-text_w)/2:y=h-th-10[out]" \
-map "[out]" -map 0:a \
output.mp4

Adjusting watermark opacity

To make the watermark semi-transparent, which can be less intrusive on the video content:

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-i watermark.png \
-filter_complex "overlay=10:10:alpha=0.5" \
output.mp4

Animating the watermark

For a more dynamic effect, you can create a moving watermark:

ffmpeg -i input_video.mp4 \
-i watermark.png \
-filter_complex "overlay='if(gte(t,1), -w+(t-1)*200, NAN)':10" \
output.mp4

This makes the watermark enter from the left side after 1 second, which can be attention-grabbing without being overly distracting.

Choosing between image and text watermarks

Both image and text watermarks have their benefits and drawbacks:

Image watermarks

Benefits

• Can include complex logos or designs
• Often more visually appealing
• Better for brand recognition

Drawbacks

• May be more intrusive on the video content
• Can be more easily removed by cropping

Text watermarks

Benefits

• Can convey specific information (e.g., copyright notices)
• Generally less intrusive
• Easier to make semi-transparent

Drawbacks

• Limited in design complexity
• May not be as effective for brand recognition

Tips for adding effective watermarks

1. Choose appropriate size: Ensure your watermark is visible but not distracting. The goal is to protect your content without diminishing the viewer's experience.
2. Consider video content: Place the watermark where it won't interfere with important parts of your video. This might mean adjusting the position for different types of content.
3. Test different opacities: Find a balance between visibility and unobtrusiveness. A semi-transparent watermark can be effective without being too distracting.
4. Be mindful of compression: Some video compression methods may affect the quality of your watermark, especially text. Always test your output on different devices and platforms.
5. Respect copyright: Ensure you have the right to use any logos or fonts in your watermarks. This is particularly important for commercial use.
6. Consistency is key: If you're watermarking multiple videos, try to maintain a consistent style and position. This helps with brand recognition across your content.
7. Consider the platform: Different video platforms may have specific requirements or best practices for watermarks. Adjust your approach accordingly.

Conclusion

By using the techniques outlined in this guide, you can effectively brand and protect your video content while maintaining its visual appeal. Remember to always test your watermarked videos on various devices and platforms to ensure the best possible viewer experience.

As you become more comfortable with FFmpeg's watermarking capabilities, you can experiment with more complex effects and combinations to create watermarks that perfectly suit your needs and enhance your video content.

Applying watermarks with Mux

If you have videos hosted with the Mux Video API you can apply image watermarks with the watermark API.

Video watermarking FAQs

What image format works best for watermarks?

PNG with transparency (alpha channel) is ideal for watermarks because it allows the video content to show through the transparent areas of your logo. This creates a more professional appearance than a rectangular logo with a solid background. Keep your watermark files reasonably sized (under 500KB) to avoid slowing down processing, and ensure the resolution is appropriate for your video dimensions.

Can I add different watermarks to different parts of a video?

With Mux only static watermarks are supported in the API.

With FFmpeg, the command is more complex, using the enable parameter with timing conditions. You can specify when each watermark appears using expressions like enable='between(t,0,30)' to show a watermark only during the first 30 seconds. However, this approach becomes complex for multiple watermarks with different timing. API-based solutions can often handle dynamic watermarking more elegantly.

Will adding watermarks significantly increase my video file size?

Image watermarks have minimal impact on file size since they're composited during encoding rather than stored separately. Text watermarks have virtually no impact. The encoding process itself matters more—if you're re-encoding the video to add the watermark, your output file size depends on your codec settings and bitrate choices, not the watermark itself.

How can I prevent my watermark from being easily removed?

Position watermarks over important visual elements rather than in empty corners where they can be cropped. Consider using semi-transparent watermarks distributed across the frame, or subtle text watermarks that repeat throughout the video. Animated watermarks that move position are harder to remove automatically. However, remember that determined individuals can remove almost any watermark—the goal is deterrence, not absolute protection.

Should I add watermarks before or after uploading to my video platform?

This depends on your workflow and platform capabilities. Adding watermarks before upload gives you complete control but requires processing all videos yourself. Platforms with watermark APIs (like Mux) let you apply watermarks dynamically without re-encoding, which is more efficient for large video libraries. Dynamic watermarking also allows you to update or remove watermarks without reprocessing original files.

What font should I use for text watermarks?

Choose fonts that are highly legible at small sizes—sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Roboto work well. Ensure you have the legal right to use the font, especially for commercial content. The font file must be accessible to FFmpeg on your system, or you can specify the full path in your command. Avoid overly decorative fonts that become illegible when semi-transparent or at smaller sizes.

How do I watermark videos at scale?

For batch processing with FFmpeg, create scripts that iterate through your video files and apply consistent watermark settings. However, processing large video libraries locally can be resource-intensive and time-consuming. Video APIs like Mux can apply watermarks dynamically across entire libraries without re-encoding, which is more efficient for production environments with hundreds or thousands of videos.

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