How to use a Photologo in Lightroom
Your beautiful new Photologo was just delivered! Now what?
It is time to put that beautiful, custom-made signature to work as your new photography watermark in Lightroom (I’m using Lightroom Classic CC for this tutorial). Thanks to the Watermark Tool the process for adding your Photologo in Lightroom is quite simple. (Want to learn more about Photologo? Check out my reivew!)
Using Your Photologo in Lightroom – Step by Step Instructions
1. Start by locating your Photologo files on your hard drive.
If you just downloaded your Photologo you’ll likely find these files in your Downloads Folder. I suggest moving these files to an easy-to-remember location: I created a folder in my Pictures folder called Photologo where I store my original Photologo files.
2. Next, open Lightroom and launch the Watermark Editor.
Go to the Lightroom menu > Edit Watermarks (Mac) or Edit menu > Edit Watermarks (Windows).
PRO TIP: By Default, the Watermark Editor window is fairly small. I recommend grabbing the corner of the window to drag it bigger. It will make placing and editing your watermark much easier.
3. In the Watermark Editor, choose Graphic as the Watermark Style.
Once Graphic is selected a window will pop up asking you to locate your watermark graphic on your hard drive. Navigate to the location where you saved your Photologo files.
Your Photologo files will be labeled something like this:
- Your-Name-black-hires.png
- Your-Name-black-lowres.png
- Your-Name-white-hires-png
- Your-Name-white-lowres.png
I suggest starting with “Your-Name-white-hires.png”.
4. Expand the Watermark Effects drop-down menu.
5. First, we will adjust the Size.
Make sure that Proportional is selected and then move the Size slider to the right until the size looks appropriate to the picture preview. The exact size you choose will depend on how noticeable or unobtrusive you want your watermark to be on your photo (I chose 26).
PRO TIP: Proportional scales the watermark larger or smaller. Fit sizes the watermark across with width of the photo. Fill sizes the watermark to fill the height and width of the photo.
6. Next, we will choose our preferred Anchor point.
My preference for most images is to place my watermark/signature in the bottom right corner so I selected the radio button on the bottom right of the of the Anchor grid.
7. Now, we will adjust the Inset.
My Photologo had a lot of negative space around the text so I decided to move it slightly closer to the right (-2 on the Horizontal Slider) and significantly lower (-4 on the Vertical Slider).
8. My new watermark is looking good, but it stands out a bit too much for my personal taste. The last step is to reduce the Opacity so that the photograph stands out more than the watermark, while still keeping the watermark reasonably noticeable and legible – I chose an Opacity setting of 60.
9. Once you have configured your watermark settings to your liking, go up to the dropdown menu in the upper left of the window where it says Custom, and choose Save Current Settings as a New Preset…
Enter a preset name for your new watermark (I chose Photologo-Right-White) and click save.
Create Multiple Versions of your Photologo in Lightroom
If you would like to have several watermark preset options using both the white and black versions with different placements, simply repeat the steps above, switching between the white and black versions of your “hires” Photologo accordingly, and altering the Anchor point.
I have six versions(!) of my logo saved in Lightroom to accommodate a variety of photographs with different lighting conditions and subject placement.
- Photologo-Right-White
- Photologo-Middle-White
- Photologo-Left-White
- Photologo-Right-Black
- Photologo-Middle-Black
- Photologo-Left-Black
Using Your Photologo in Lightroom as a Watermark
Now that you have created your watermark preset(s) the last step is to apply your watermark upon export.
NOTE: You will not see your watermark on your photos while in Lightroom. Watermarking is something usually applied upon export. The only exceptions are in the Print, Web, and Slideshow modules of Lightroom which allow watermark use.
There are several ways to export a photograph in Lightroom. My preferred method is to Right-Click (or ctrl-click on Mac) >Export >Export… but you can also click on the Export… button on the bottom left of the Develop module or go to File > Export.
In the Export dialog box, scroll down to the Watermarking section and select the watermark preset you’d like to use from the dropdown menu, then click the Export button in the bottom right of the window.
That is it! You are now ready to share your photographs with your beautiful new custom-made watermark far and wide!
Questions about Photologo or using watermarks in Lightroom?
If you have any questions about Photologo or watermarking, you can comment below or contact me directly. Also, please be sure to check out my Photologo Review here.
If you would like help setting up your Photologo in Lightroom, please consider my Photography Coaching services. I would be happy to help you set up your Photologo in Lightroom (or answer any other Lightroom questions you might have). You can learn more about my coaching services here.
Disclosure: One of the ways I support this website is by partnering with awesome companies, whose products I use and love. These partnerships allow me to earn a small commission when you make a purchase through one of my affiliate links, but there is no additional cost for you. Thank you for your support!
19 Comments
Leave a Comment
GET EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS WHEN A NEW ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED!
Where do you get custom logos?
Don
Hi Don – I got mine through a company called Photologo. You can read my review here: https://angelaandrieux.com/photologo-review/ If you have any other questions, please let me know! :)
I’ve read your instructions, however my lightroom cc does not have these options. I have the cloud base lightroom and options are not the same, I have not been able to use my signature from photo logo
Hi Areli – My instructions are for Lightroom Classic CC (not Lightroom CC). At this time Lightroom CC does not support watermarking.
Lightroom Classic CC: Text and Graphic Watermarks
Lightroom CC for desktop: No Watermarking feature at this time.
Lightroom CC for mobile (iOS and Android) Text Watermarks
Lightroom CC for Web: No Watermarking feature at this time.
Watermarking capability enhancement is planned but there is no ETA for this feature at this time. https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/watermarks-in-lr-cc
An alternative is to consider Photologo’s app Photopolish: https://photologo.co/photopolish-fastest-way-watermark-photos/
Hi Angela
I have the photo logo and have set up in lightroom. It worked good a couple times and now it won’t show up after I export. When I try to add the logo I get the little perforated box but nothing shows up. I have followed your directions and still not working… any idea?
Hi Paul – When you export, do you have the Watermark box ticked in the Watermarking section of the Export window and the correct watermark selected from the drop-down menu?
You fail to mention that that Lightroom scales the logo and destroys its sharpness. It ends up a fuzzy, blurry or blotchy representation of its original self. Hopeless implementation from Lightroom. Shame.
Hi Belinda – I haven’t encountered that issue. Can you tell me a bit about the settings you’re using in Lightroom’s watermarking tool? I might be able to offer a few suggestions.
Hi Angela, can this be done on lightroom mobile?
Hi Chris – You can add a text watermark using Lightroom mobile, but it doesn’t have the option to use a PNG file for a graphic watermark (yet). Hopefully they’ll add this in the future. I know I’d use it! For now, the folks at Photologo recommend using Union (an iOS app) for adding your Photologo on an iOS device.
Hi Angela, thanks so much for the tutorial. I’m new to Lightroom and you helped me out incredibly, thanks!!
One question; can you delete preset watermarks you just made but aren’t exactly happy about? I couldn’t find the option to edit or delete the presets. Thanks for your help!
Hi! So glad the article was helpful. You can indeed delete watermarks.
Choose Edit > Edit Watermarks (Windows) or Lightroom Classic > Edit Watermarks (Mac OS).
In the dropdown menu at the top left, choose the watermark you’d like to delete. Then click on the dropdown menu again and scroll down to Delete Preset
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. Have an awesome week!
did you try the photopolish program ? debating between that and trying to get adobe lightroom download. thanks for any input
Hi! I have not tried Photo Polish, but I’ve heard it is a good application. I use Lightroom Classic for watermarking my images as I was already established with Lightroom as my photo management system.
Hello, I received the PNG files for a logo from Photologo, but when I put into lightroom, When I try to add the PNG into logo I get the little perforated box but nothing shows up. then I purchased Photopolish and try to add the PNG files from Photologo into the watermark area and get an error message, error loading image. I am able to pull other png and jpg files from my hard drive that I’ve used before for watermarks that I myself created but the 4 from Photologo do not work. Also cannot open the pdf they sent me for the instructions. I suspect there is something wrong with the files they sent me?
Hi Heather – It sounds like the files are corrupted. I would try downloading them again and see if that helps. If the problem persists, I recommend contacting Photologo support.
Hi, I’ve been using photologo watermark in Lightroom for a while now but it’s just stopped working, every time I select the watermark to be added and export it the logo hasn’t been applied.
Any ideas what’s going on and how to get it back in use please??
Hi Louise – I’m not certain what might have changed in your setup, but have you tried setting it up again as a new watermark? Also, I recommend double checking your export settings to make sure that the correct watermark option is chosen.
I found your instructions helpfull and to the point.