"How do I add an embossed copyright info to an image?" I've seen that question many times on Photoshop forums around the Web. Everyone likes the look of an embossed copyright. Some people like a big copyright symbol and their studio name and maybe something like "Proof" right in the middle of the image. Others prefer something a little more subtle, like a copyright and their name down near the corner of the image.

Adding text and symbols is difficult for a Photoshop action to automate. Oh, you can add them easily enough. But, if your image is a different size than the image for which you crafted your Photoshop action, you can get some really weird results. The symbols and text do not automatically resize.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution. You can create a custom layer style and then apply it. This lets you drop whatever text or custom shape you like on the image, resize or move them around, and have them appear with a translucent, embossed effect. Really slick! You can even nuse a logo from something like Adobe Illustrator CS for your watermark.

Ok, let's get started . . .

Layer Styles

A Layer Style is just a collection of settings that you can assign to a layer in order to quick and easily add a special effect. You can easily save presets, modify them, even share them with others.

Layer Styles are perfect for adding watermarks to images. All they contain is settings. There is no pixel information stored with a Layer Style. If you resize a shape layer, the assigned effect automatically resizes without degrading in any way.

Adding Style to Your Shape Layers

Adding a copyright watermark starts with a copyright symbol. You can use the Custom Shape tool in Photoshop CS to add one to your image. Make it whatever size and place it whereever you like.

If you have never used the Custom Shape tool, it comes loaded with lots of symbols and shapes that you can drag and drop right on your image.

You can also apply the embossed watermark effect to text. There's a second step when you work with text. You need to select the Layer|Type|Convert to Shape menu item. That way you convert your text into a shape layer. That makes it easy to add to images in the future. Why retype your name all the time?

To add a text layer as a custom shape, just click on the layer to make it the active layer and then select the Edit|Define Custom Shape... menu item. Give your new custom shape a name. I have custom shapes named "Proof," "URL," and "Studio" to quickly drop and size "Proof", my Web address, and my studio name on images.

We're ready to add the embossed effect. So, let's add a layer style for it. Click on the shape layer for the copyright symbol. We'll start with that and then save the layer style so we can apply it anytime to another image.

Click on the layer to make it active. Change the Opacity to 50% and the Fill to 20%. This will give you options later to make the effect more/less pronounced, depending on the color of the underlying image.

Now bring up the Layer Style palette. Just double-click on the layer just to the right of the name: that's the quickest way.

First thing we need to do is blend in some white. This will give the watermark a translucent, rather than totally transparent effect. It helps the effect stand out a little more. Double-click on Color Overlay and then click on the color swatch and set it to white.

Next we need to add a drop shadow. Double-click on Drop Shadow and enter the following settings: Distance (0), Size (15), Blend (Multiply), Opacity (50%), Layer Knocks Out Drop Shadow (checked).

Finally, we need to emboss. Double-click on Bevel and Emboss. Style (Emboss), Technique(Smooth), Size (5).

Before you close the Layer Style Palette, click on the button labeled "New Style..." and give your new layer style a name. You can use this anytime in the future. All you have to do is click on a shape layer and then select the Layer Style from the Options Bar. I named mine "Transparent Embossed Style." Photoshop CS will create an icon to represent the style settings.

Once you create this new Layer Style, Photoshop CS will apply it by default to each custom shape you add until you select a different Layer Style.

The image below shows the result of applying the new Layer Style to my custom shapes for "PROOF" and my URL as well as the copyright symbol that comes with Photoshop CS. I adjusted the opacity for the layers to 75% in order to make the watermark stand out more against the weathered gray barn wood.

Embed Your Copyright Details

If you are going to add a copyright to your image, you may as well embed the copyright information into the metadata for your image. That way, if someone opens your image in Photoshop, the title for the window will change to notify them that the image is copyrighted.

Just go to the File|File Info... menu item. Filling in the details is a quick and easy task for a Photoshop action. Photoshop CS also makes it quick and easy to add details from previous images. Just click the down arrow at the end of an information line and your most recent entries will appear in a list for easy selection.

Feel free to experiment with different Layer Style settings. Different settings can give your watermark a distinctive look

Enjoy!