How to Add Copyright Text to a Photo Online Free
Adding a copyright notice to your photos is one of the simplest ways to assert ownership and deter misuse. A © symbol with your name and year tells viewers immediately that the photo is protected — and gives you legal standing if you ever need to pursue copyright infringement. You don't need Photoshop to do this. ImgToolkit's watermark tool adds copyright text directly in your browser, free.
Quick Answer
Adding a copyright notice to your photos is one of the simplest ways to assert ownership and deter misuse. A © symbol with your name and year tells viewers immediately that the photo is protected — and gives you legal standing if you ever need to pursue copyright infringement.
Try it now — free, no signup
Your images stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded to any server.
Step-by-Step Guide
5 steps · takes under 1 minute
Open the Watermark tool
Go to the Watermark Image tool on ImgToolkit.
Upload your photo
Drop in your JPG or PNG photo. It loads directly in your browser.
Enter your copyright text
Type: © 2026 Your Name or © YourWebsite.com. The © symbol can be typed on Mac with Option+G, on Windows with Alt+0169.
Style and position
Use white text at 50% opacity for dark photos, dark text for light backgrounds. Position in a bottom corner or center.
Download
Download your copyright-protected photo. The original is unchanged.
100% Private — Zero Uploads
ImgToolkit runs entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. Your images are never sent to a server, never stored in the cloud, and never seen by anyone else. This makes it safe for sensitive documents, client work, medical imagery, and confidential screenshots.
Pro tip
Use 75–85% quality for web images — you get 60–80% smaller files with no visible difference at normal screen sizes.
Format & File Size Comparison
Same 1080×1080px photo processed four ways
| Format | Quality | File Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG (original) | Perfect | 4.2 MB | No compression — too large for web |
| Compressed PNG | Visually identical | 1.1 MB | −74% — transparency preserved |
| JPG (85% quality) | Excellent | 310 KB | −93% · Best for photos |
| WebP (85%)BEST | Excellent | 205 KB | −95% · Recommended for web |
Based on a 1080×1080px photo. Results vary by image content and complexity.
Related Free Tools
All tools run in your browser — no account or upload needed
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions answered
Ready to get started?
Free, instant — your files stay on your device. Always.
Add Copyright Text Free