You can’t create a simple textual watermark on a slide as you can in a document, but you can achieve a similar result by inserting WordArt and making it nearly transparent so that the slide content is visible through the WordArt text. Similarly, you can insert a shape, add text to it, and then adjust the transparency of the shape and the text to mimic a textual watermark. You can also format an image, such as a clip art image or a photo, as a watermark. The key difference between these methods and actual watermarks is that these methods place the nearly transparent watermark content in front of the slide content, rather than behind it, so the fake watermark could obscure the slide content.
For information about textual watermarks, see the sidebar "Add a Watermark to a Document" in Chapter 14. For information about inserting shapes, clip art, and photos, see Chapter 12.
To insert a textual watermark on a slide by using WordArt:
Display the slide in Normal view.
From the WordArt tab of the Elements Gallery, select a WordArt style appropriate to your document.
Replace the Your Text Here placeholder with your watermark text.
Select the watermark text. In the Colors, Weights, and Fills panel of the Formatting Palette, set the Fill Transparency to a number between 65% and 90% (adjust the transparency to suit your preferences).
If the WordArt design includes an outline, set the Line Transparency to a number between 65% and 100%.
Size and position the WordArt where you want it to appear on the page. If you want the watermark to be diagonal, rotate the WordArt object by dragging the green rotation handle.
For information about moving and rotating objects, see "Insert and Modify Shapes" in Chapter 12.
To insert a textual watermark on a slide by using a shape:
Display the slide in Normal view.
From the Object Palette of the Toolbox, insert a rectangle shape. Then size and position the shape where you want it to appear on the page.
Add the watermark text to the shape.
Select the shape. In the Colors, Weights, and Fills panel, choose No Fill in the Fill Color list, and choose No Line in the Line Color list.
Select the watermark text. In the Colors, Weights, and Fills panel, choose the color you want the text to be. Then set the Fill Transparency of the text to a number between 65% and 90%.
If the inserted shape includes shadowing or any other formatting that is still visible, remove it by using the Formatting Palette tools.
To create a watermark on a slide by using an image or photo: