Can you add a watermark like ʼPRELIMINARYʼ to your drawing in SolidWorks?
Short Answer
Yes — in SolidWorks you can add a watermark like “PRELIMINARY” to a drawing, most commonly by editing the sheet format and placing a large note in Edit Sheet Format. This is the standard professional method because it stays on the drawing layout. Limitation: it is not a true automatic watermark tool.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: If you place the “PRELIMINARY” note on the sheet instead of in the sheet format, it may only appear on one sheet or be deleted during format updates. Also, oversized watermark text can print too dark and reduce drawing readability.
How to Add a PRELIMINARY Watermark in SolidWorks
Command: Edit Sheet Format
Shortcut: None by default
Quick Steps:
- In the drawing, right-click the sheet background and choose Edit Sheet Format.
- Use annotation > Note to place a large “PRELIMINARY” note on the sheet format, then set angle, font size, and color as needed.
- In the Note PropertyManager, enable options like a lighter text color if needed, position it behind key views manually, then right-click and choose Edit Sheet to return.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Sheet Format vs Sheet
Expert Setting: Place the watermark in Edit Sheet Format, not normal sheet editing mode. This makes the note part of the title block/layout format so it appears consistently and is less likely to move with drawing content.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): The watermark note is too large or poorly positioned, overlapping drawing views, dimensions, or tables and making the sheet hard to read.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): The note may be on a layer with print settings, color behavior, or visibility settings that prevent it from displaying or plotting as expected.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The note was added in normal sheet editing instead of sheet format editing, so it does not propagate properly with the format or stay consistent across sheets.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
Quick Fix: Right-click the sheet, use Edit Sheet Format, and recreate the watermark as a Note in the format layer/background area.
Manager’s Verdict: Use a sheet format watermark for draft, review, or approval-stage drawings, but avoid it for released production documents unless your company standard explicitly controls revision and status marking this way.
FAQ
Can you make the PRELIMINARY watermark appear on every sheet?
Yes, if you add it to each sheet format or use a shared sheet format template.
Can you control whether the watermark prints?
Yes, by using layer print settings or changing the note color/style before plotting.
Is there a built-in solidworks watermark command?
No, the common method is adding a Note in Edit Sheet Format.
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