Envato Tuts+ Tutorials

Envato Tuts+ Tutorials


How to Quickly Make & Edit Microsoft MS Word Table Designs

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 07:03 AM PDT

Are you struggling to get your message across? When your Microsoft Word project contains information, try presenting it in the form of a Word table. Learn how to make tables in Word quickly with a template.

Word templates - Envato ElementsWord templates - Envato ElementsWord templates - Envato Elements
Premium Word templates like this one help you create effective documents with professional design and layout.

A table is a kind of chart that organizes and presents data in rows and columns. It makes information easier to grasp, understand, and analyze at a glance, compared to explaining the same data through plain text.

Microsoft Word gives you various ways to insert or create a table. And you've got granular control over the formatting, layout, and appearance of Microsoft Word tables. Table charts are useful in different types of Word projects, whether for personal, educational, or business use. 

This article will show you how to make a table in Word using a template. Then edit and format it to change its appearance.

(Note: The screenshots and instructions that follow are made using Microsoft Word for Mac version 16.4. If you're using a different version of Word, then the interface and steps may be different.)

How to Make & Edit MS Word Tables (Video)

In this video, you'll learn how to quickly make tables in Mircosoft Word. Find out how to start with a premium template. Quickly customize it to make an attractive, professional MS Word table you can use and reuse.

To learn even more about MS Word tables and about templates than can be used for tables, study the step-by-step tutorial below:

How to Make Basic Tables in Word 

Let's start by learning how to make a basic table in Microsoft Word:

1. Insert a Table

You can create a basic Microsoft Word table in one of two ways:

Method 1. The Insert Tab

Click on the Insert tab, then click the Table button on the ribbon.

How to make a table in Word - Insert TableHow to make a table in Word - Insert TableHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table

The Insert Table panel appears. Drag the cursor over the squares to specify the number of columns and rows you want to create. Click to apply.

How to make a table in Word - Insert Table panelHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table panelHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table panel

Method 2. The Insert Menu

Go to Insert > Table….

How to make a table in Word - Insert Table from menuHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table from menuHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table from menu

The Insert Table panel opens. Specify the number of columns and rows you need. (You can always add or remove columns and rows later.)

How to make a table in Word - Insert Table panel from menuHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table panel from menuHow to make a table in Word - Insert Table panel from menu

Also select the Autofit Behavior you want the table to have. You've got several options:

  • Initial column width. The default setting is Auto, which divides the entire width of your page window across the number of columns in the table. Or, you can specify a different column width.
  • AutoFit to contents. Resizes the column width based on the width of the content inside the column. 
  • AutoFit to window. Distributes the columns equally across the entire width of the page window.
  • Set as default for new tables. Check this option if you want the settings to be applied globally to all new tables you create.

When you're happy with the options you've selected, click OK.

How to make a table in Word - Inserting a tableHow to make a table in Word - Inserting a tableHow to make a table in Word - Inserting a table

2. Draw a Table

Or, you can draw a table in MS Word. This is a useful feature if you want to create an irregular or more complicated table with columns and/or rows of varying widths.

To draw a table, click Insert > TableDraw Table.

How to make a table in Word - Draw TableHow to make a table in Word - Draw TableHow to make a table in Word - Draw Table

With your mouse or trackpad, click and drag the cursor to start drawing your table. You can begin by drawing the outermost boundary of the table first.

Microsoft Word table - Draw TableMicrosoft Word table - Draw TableMicrosoft Word table - Draw Table

Then, click and drag the cursor to create columns and rows inside the table. When you're done, click anywhere outside the table.

Microsoft Word table - Draw Table columns and rowsMicrosoft Word table - Draw Table columns and rowsMicrosoft Word table - Draw Table columns and rows

Here's an example of an "irregular" table you can draw using this feature.

Microsoft Word table - Drawing a TableMicrosoft Word table - Drawing a TableMicrosoft Word table - Drawing a Table

If you make a mistake, click LayoutEraser to erase a line from the table.

Microsoft Word table - Table EraserMicrosoft Word table - Table EraserMicrosoft Word table - Table Eraser

Click and drag the eraser along the line you wish to erase. The line that'll be erased appears as a thick, red line. Release the mouse or trackpad to erase.

Microsoft Word table - Layout EraserMicrosoft Word table - Layout EraserMicrosoft Word table - Layout Eraser

Click outside the table when you're done.

3. Convert Text to Tables and Vice Versa

Another way to create a table is by converting text into a table. This means you can take non-tabular data from a CSV or plain TXT file and convert them into a table.

First, copy and paste the non-tabular data into your Word document.

How to insert table in Word - Converting Text to TablesHow to insert table in Word - Converting Text to TablesHow to insert table in Word - Converting Text to Tables

With the text selected, go to Insert > Table > Convert Text to Table….

How to insert table in Word by converting Text to Tables How to insert table in Word by converting Text to Tables How to insert table in Word by converting Text to Tables

The Convert Text to Table panel opens. Specify the settings you wish to use. Click OK.

How to insert table in Word - Convert Text to Tables PanelHow to insert table in Word - Convert Text to Tables PanelHow to insert table in Word - Convert Text to Tables Panel

The text is then converted into a table.

How to insert table in Word - Text Converted to TablesHow to insert table in Word - Text Converted to TablesHow to insert table in Word - Text Converted to Tables

You can also do the opposite, which is to convert a table into text.

Select the cells or entire table you want to convert. Next, click on the Layout tab then click the Convert Table to Text icon.

How to insert table in Word - Convert Table to Text iconHow to insert table in Word - Convert Table to Text iconHow to insert table in Word - Convert Table to Text icon

The Convert Table to Text panel opens. This is where you'll decide how you want to separate text that's currently in different columns. When you've made a selection, click OK.

How to insert table in Word - Convert Table to TextHow to insert table in Word - Convert Table to TextHow to insert table in Word - Convert Table to Text

For this example, I chose to separate text with commas. This is what the converted table looks like.

How to insert table in Word - Table converted to textHow to insert table in Word - Table converted to textHow to insert table in Word - Table converted to text

4. Advanced: How to Insert a Table from Excel

If you've already created a table in Excel, you can embed it into your Word document.

Open the Excel file. Click and drag the mouse to select the table.

How to insert table in Word - Insert a Table from ExcelHow to insert table in Word - Insert a Table from ExcelHow to insert table in Word - Insert a Table from Excel

Go back to your Word document. Go to Edit > Paste Special ….

How to insert table in Word - Insert a Table from Excel Paste SpecialHow to insert table in Word - Insert a Table from Excel Paste SpecialHow to insert table in Word - Insert a Table from Excel Paste Special

In the Paste Special panel, select Microsoft Excel Binary Worksheet Object, then click OK.

How to insert table in Word - Paste Microsoft Excel Binary Worksheet ObjectHow to insert table in Word - Paste Microsoft Excel Binary Worksheet ObjectHow to insert table in Word - Paste Microsoft Excel Binary Worksheet Object

This embeds the Excel table into Word. It's still an Excel table, which means you can't edit or format the table in MS Word. You've got to do so in Excel.

Embed Microsoft Excel Table into WordEmbed Microsoft Excel Table into WordEmbed Microsoft Excel Table into Word

Double-click anywhere in the table to launch the source file in Excel. When you make any changes to the table in Excel, the table embedded in your Word project automatically updates to reflect those changes.

Now you know how to make a table in MS Word using various options.

How to Edit Tables

At any time after creating your table, you can edit and customize it to look the way you want it to. Here are some steps for editing tables in Microsoft Word:

1. Add a Column or Row

To add a row or column, click inside a table cell. Right-click on the mouse, then click Insert.

Edit a table in MS Word - Add a column or rowEdit a table in MS Word - Add a column or rowEdit a table in MS Word - Add a column or row

Select one of the following: 

  • Columns to the Left. Adds a column to the left of the current column
  • Columns to the Right. Adds a column to the right of the current column
  • Rows Above. Adds a row above the current row
  • Rows Below. Adds a row below the current row
  • Cells … Inserts a cell and shifts the rest of the cells either to the right or down from where the cursor is
  • Table … Inserts a table inside the current cell

Or, with the cursor in one of the cells, you can click on the Layout tab.

Edit a table in MS Word - LayoutEdit a table in MS Word - LayoutEdit a table in MS Word - Layout

Then choose of the following buttons on the ribbon:

  • Insert Above. Inserts a row above the current cell
  • Insert Below. Inserts a row below the current cell
  • Insert Columns to the Left. Inserts a column to the left of the current cell
  • Insert Columns to the Right. Inserts a column to the right of the current cell

Finally, you can add a new row when you've reached the last cell in the last row of your table. Simply press tab and a new row appears.

2. Delete a Column or Row

To delete a cell, column, row, or table, click on the Layout tab > Delete.

Edit a table in MS Word - Delete column or rowEdit a table in MS Word - Delete column or rowEdit a table in MS Word - Delete column or row

Select one of the options that appear:

  • Delete Cells …
  • Delete Columns
  • Delete Rows
  • Delete Table

You can use the same steps to edit a table you've drawn. Or, you can use the Layout tab to add or delete rows and columns.

Edit a table in MS Word - Layout Draw Table and EraserEdit a table in MS Word - Layout Draw Table and EraserEdit a table in MS Word - Layout Draw Table and Eraser

Merge Cells

Sometimes you may want to merge cells to present information more clearly. To merge cells, click and drag the cursor to select the cells you wish to merge.

Edit a table in MS Word - Merge Cells Edit a table in MS Word - Merge Cells Edit a table in MS Word - Merge Cells

On the Layout tab, click on the Merge Cells button.

Edit a table in MS Word - Merge cells through Layout tabEdit a table in MS Word - Merge cells through Layout tabEdit a table in MS Word - Merge cells through Layout tab

Or, after selecting the cells to be merged, right-click on your mouse, then click Merge Cells.

Edit a table in MS Word - Merge cells through right-clickEdit a table in MS Word - Merge cells through right-clickEdit a table in MS Word - Merge cells through right-click

Now the cells have been merged into one.

Edit a table in MS Word - Cells mergedEdit a table in MS Word - Cells mergedEdit a table in MS Word - Cells merged

Split Cells

After merging cells, you can always split them again into separate cells. 

Place the cursor in the merged cell, then click Layout > Split Cells.

Edit a table in MS Word - Split cellsEdit a table in MS Word - Split cellsEdit a table in MS Word - Split cells

Or, right-click on your mouse, then click Split Cells…

Edit a table in MS Word - Right-click to Split CellsEdit a table in MS Word - Right-click to Split CellsEdit a table in MS Word - Right-click to Split Cells

Either way, the Split Cells panel pops up. Specify the number of columns and rows you want to split the cell into. Click OK.

Edit a table in MS Word - Split Cells panelEdit a table in MS Word - Split Cells panelEdit a table in MS Word - Split Cells panel

Split Table

You may decide that it makes more sense to split up a table into two separate tables. Microsoft Word lets you do that easily, too.

In this example, I want to split the table right above the Accessories cell. And so, I'll place the cursor in that cell. Next, click on the Layout tab, then click the Split Table button.

Edit a table in MS Word - How to split a tableEdit a table in MS Word - How to split a tableEdit a table in MS Word - How to split a table

Now, we've got two separate tables.

Edit a table in MS Word - Split TableEdit a table in MS Word - Split TableEdit a table in MS Word - Split Table

Table Formatting

When you first create a table, it looks plain and boring. But Microsoft Word has many features so you can format tables to look exactly the way you want them. Here are some common ways to format tables:

1. Table Styles

The easiest way to format a table is by using one of the pre-formatted table styles. Put the cursor in any cell in the table. Click on the Table Design tab. Next, click on the arrow to expand the Table Styles group. 

Edit a table in MS Word - Table StylesEdit a table in MS Word - Table StylesEdit a table in MS Word - Table Styles

Click on a style you want to use and it's applied immediately.

You can change any style you've selected. Again, click on Table Design, expand the Table Style group, then click Modify Style

The Modify Style panel opens. Make the selections you want, then click OK.

2. Use Your Own Formatting

The Table Design tab gives you control over the appearance of every aspect of your table. Click on the Table Design tab and any of the appropriate buttons on the ribbon.

Edit a table in MS Word - Table DesignEdit a table in MS Word - Table DesignEdit a table in MS Word - Table Design

Resize a Table

You can also resize your table. Click on any cell to select the table, then click and drag one of the corners to resize it.

Edit a table in MS Word - Resizing a TableEdit a table in MS Word - Resizing a TableEdit a table in MS Word - Resizing a Table

Or, you can use the Layout tab to resize individual cells, specific rows or columns, or the entire table. Select the columns or rows you wish to resize. Specify the height and/or width you wish to apply.

Edit a table in MS Word - Layout to resize columns and rowsEdit a table in MS Word - Layout to resize columns and rowsEdit a table in MS Word - Layout to resize columns and rows

You can also adjust column width by hand by using the Table Ruler. Click inside a column you want to change. Then, drag the sliders in the Table Ruler to set to desired width.

Edit a table in MS Word - Table RulerEdit a table in MS Word - Table RulerEdit a table in MS Word - Table Ruler

Text Wrapping

If you want text to flow around the table, you can do so by changing its text wrapping. 

Click in any cell to select the table. Click Table > Table Properties….

Edit a table in MS Word - Text WrappingEdit a table in MS Word - Text WrappingEdit a table in MS Word - Text Wrapping

In the Table Properties panel and under Text Wrapping, click Around > OK.

Edit a table in MS Word - Table PropertiesEdit a table in MS Word - Table PropertiesEdit a table in MS Word - Table Properties

Now the text flows around the table.

Edit a table in MS Word - Text Wrapping AroundEdit a table in MS Word - Text Wrapping AroundEdit a table in MS Word - Text Wrapping Around

Take note that the Table Properties panel allows you to format other qualities of the table, including:

  • Size
  • Alignment
  • Positioning
  • Borders and Shading

On the other tabs, you can change:

  • Column, Row, and Cell Size
  • Allow row to break across pages
  • Repeat as header row at the top of each page
  • Cell Vertical Alignment
  • Alt Text (Title and Description) - more information about the table, to help people with vision or cognitive impairment who may not see the table

Find Great Styles for Microsoft Word

You don't have to start from scratch to create an impressive and effective Word document — even if you don't have design skills. You can find great styles by using a template for Word.

Premium Word templates - Envato ElementsPremium Word templates - Envato ElementsPremium Word templates - Envato Elements
Access thousands of Word templates with unlimited downloads at Envato Elements.

One great source for great Microsoft Word templates and professional graphics is Envato Elements. For one low monthly subscription, you get unlimited downloads of templates, graphics, fonts, and other creative tools you need for your project. It's a terrific option if you create plenty of materials.

For single projects, GraphicRiver is an outstanding source for templates for Word. This marketplace gives you access to thousands of creative elements on a pay-per-use basis.

Learn More

Microsoft Word has many robust features to help you realize the vision you've got for your document. But with power comes complexity. That's why it's a good idea to learn how to use Microsoft Word

These articles will help you get started:

Visualize Your Data with Microsoft Word Tables

Make your information clearer and easier to understand by learning how to make a table in Microsoft Word. Tables organize data into rows and columns, which makes them easier to grasp at a glance. Follow the steps in this article to create, format, and customize tables in Word.

You can also use a premium Word template to get a premium design created by designers. Get Word templates from Envato Elements, if you want unlimited downloads of templates, graphics, and other creative tools you need — all for one flat monthly fee.

Or, get premium templates for Word from GraphicRiver if you prefer to pay for each use of an item. Both sources give you access to thousands of design elements created by professionals, so you can save time, energy, and effort while creating an outstanding Word document.

7 Business Ideas to Make Money in the Creative Economy

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 06:35 AM PDT

Is it possible to thrive and be successful just on the merit of your ideas? Yes—at least in what's known as a "creative economy". Not only is it possible for creatives to thrive in this system, but the system itself is built on the exchange and execution of their ideas.

Investing in your creativityInvesting in your creativityInvesting in your creativity
Investing in your creativity. Graphic source: Envato Elements

In this economy, the main commodities are imagination, ingenuity, and innovation. The more a person or organization has these commodities, the higher the value they provide. Compare this with the manufacturing economy, where the main factors that drive value are output, trade, and consumer demand. In a creative economy, the strength and uniqueness of your idea is more important than the efficiency of your production line.

Why Is the Creative Economy Important?

Despite its name, the creative economy isn't limited to specific creative fields. As long as value is measured in terms of innovations and ideas, the concepts apply. Still, the industries that tend to produce it most include art, design, entertainment, media, and culture.

There are a few reasons why the creative economy matters now, even to people who aren't artists or other traditional creatives. First of all, current web technology makes it possible for people to quickly and cheaply launch and promote ideas, regardless of their background and capital. For example, business practices such as lean startup shortens the development cycles of businesses, allowing them to launch products and services as quickly as possible. 

Events such as Startup Weekend and various hackathons encourage participants to deliver a minimal product in a matter of days or hours, while also creating the conditions for driven creatives to collaborate with each other during this short period. Whether your idea is a simple blog or an online software suite, testing and launching your idea tends to be faster and more cost-effective today than it would have been ten or twenty years ago. 

Learn more about approaches to lean startups:

Also, many repetitive, simple jobs can now be automated. Workers who are looking to remain competitive in the near future have to bring something extra to the table: their creativity.

Because of these conditions, it's becoming more important for skilled workers to learn how to compete in the creative economy, where their ideas can be quickly realized and their skills are unlikely to be automated. While creative fields under arts, design, and culture are easily identifiable to thrive in this economy, technical skill is crucial as well. 

What's valuable in a creative economy is how unique and innovative your ideas are, rather than the form of your creative output. In other words, a sculptor that doesn't do innovative work may end up producing less value in a creative economy than a programmer who builds a simple tech solution to an important problem in the world.

Thriving in a Creative Economy

Regardless of the set of skills you have, it's possible for you to participate in the creative economy. Keep in mind, however, that competing in the creative economy isn't for everyone. Here are the traits and skills that a person might need to thrive:

  • Competence and mastery in your field. Because your value and input in a creative economy rely on the strength of your ideas, to do well requires competence. But it's not enough to know the skills that are necessary for you to start calling yourself a "programmer" or "artist" or "startup founder"—you also need the vision to come up with cutting-edge, valuable ideas in your industry. You can achieve this only through deliberate practice, hard-won experience, and by generating and testing many ideas along the way.
  • Entrepreneurial skills. Good ideas and competence can only get you so far. Without entrepreneurial skills to match, it will be difficult to make your projects sustainable and profitable. Entrepreneurial skills aren't limited to the financial aspect of your idea, however. It's also important for any creative worker to understand marketing, sales, and organization. If working with a team, management skills will also come in handy.
  • Be part of a strong community. There's a social aspect to the creative economy, whether you're looking to launch civic-minded projects, collaborate with others, build an audience, or simply have the inspirational and mental support of a creative group. In the absence of an existing community, find or create your own. After all, in an economy that values ideas and creativity, it will be difficult to establish your role in the marketplace without the presence of others.

By being competent in your field, having some entrepreneurial skills, and being a part of a community, you increase your chances of thriving through creativity.

How to Make Money in a Creative EconomyHow to Make Money in a Creative EconomyHow to Make Money in a Creative Economy
What is your path to thriving in a creative economy? (illustration)

How to Make Money in the Creative Economy

While these aren't specific ideas or projects you can launch, they are business models that you can use to start your own project in the creative economy.

1. Teach a Specialized Skill 

Since creative workers tend to be knowledgeable in their fields, they can build a business around teaching the many skills they've learned and practiced over time. These skills could be technical, creative, or even include soft skills like negotiation, networking, and communication. If you have a skill that takes a long time to master, has a high barrier to entry, and is in demand, you can consider teach or coaching as part of your business model.

For example, the instructors on Tuts+ put up both free and paid courses teaching skills like coding and web design

Teach at Envato Tuts+Teach at Envato Tuts+Teach at Envato Tuts+
Teach at Envato Tuts+

There are also other marketplaces for specific fields, such as Creativebug for handmade arts and crafts. There are also educational marketplaces you can check out online, which hosts a wide variety of lessons, from healthy cooking, to business, to speed reading.

But you don't necessarily have to join a course marketplace to start teaching. You can set up your own course website, sell ebooks, or create live in-person bootcamps and seminars. 

One good example of a teacher selling on their own platform is designer Nathan Barry, who publishes his own ebooks on app design, with one ebook making over $100,000 in sales.

2. Become an Audience-Supported Creative

When it comes to creative endeavors, collaboration and community have an important role to play—especially if you're depending on a specific community to finance your ideas. This is the model used by creatives who depend mostly on donations or fan-based funding. In this model, if someone likes your work, they commit to recurring donations (such as monthly or per output) or help you finance specific creative projects in exchange for exclusive donor rewards. 

While many creatives can generate and manage donations on their own, they can also use crowdfunding services such as the following:

  • Patreon is used by artists working in different media such as drawing and painting, podcasts, photography, and theater. Comic artist Jeph Jacques, who makes the strip "Questionable Content", makes at least $7,000 per month from the site.
  • AppsFunder is for funding app development), including games and productivity tools.
  • Apart from Kickstarter, there are many crowdfunding sites that feature projects under a wide variety of different fields, such as Indiegogo.

3. "Productize" Your Skills

Another way to make money in the creative economy is by taking your specialized skills and knowledge and turning them into products. These products are often meant to be used by people who need your skill but don't have it. These could be stock graphics and photos, design templates, or worksheets and cheat sheets that simplify complex processes. 

Unlike services, which often have custom pricing and require a lot of one-on-one time with each client, products should have simple pricing and aren't custom-made for each customer.

An example of this are the creators who participate in our online marketplace Envato Market, who sell website templatesgraphic templatesvideo files, and more. Learn how to become an author and start selling. There are millions of users across eight marketplaces participating in this vibrant economy.

Envato MarketEnvato MarketEnvato Market
Envato Market

Learn more about earning income from selling stock and how to productize your services:

4. Publish Content

When it comes to ideas, one way to make them shine is by creating engaging content that appeals to your target audience. This content can stand on its own to help you establish yourself as a serious player in the creative economy, or it could be its own income generating venture.

A popular example of this is the site Brain Pickings. Writer Maria Popova initially started the site as a personal project for her friends, but it eventually became one of the most popular sites on the web, and was even included in the Library of Congress permanent web archive. 

The site generates income through reader donations and affiliate commissions from the books that Popova writes about. Though the site is ad-free, many other content creators often use advertising to make money from their content.

Apart from blogs, content creators can also produce podcasts, videos, and other media. Get started with producing your own content:

5. Create Problem-Solving Tech Tools

For the more technologically inclined, creating problem-solving inventions or innovations is a great way to make an impact in the creative economy. These products are often the output from processes like the "lean startup", which requires a lot of user feedback and design iterations, with the objective of releasing a product quickly into the wild. 

Creative Problem SolvingCreative Problem SolvingCreative Problem Solving
Create problem solving tools (illustration).

Your innovation doesn't have to be world-changing—although that helps—it just has to solve a painful problem for others. If you want it to be profitable, your target users should be willing and able to pay for your solution as well.

One example is Bidsketch, which helps freelancers and service professionals create proposals quickly. Another example is Slack, a messaging app that has grown so much in popularity that it's used by many organizations from Buzzfeed to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as our teams here at Envato.

6. Provide a Platform for Other Creatives 

The go-to idea in a creative economy is usually to make something yourself, but it's also important to partner with other creatives and give them a platform to promote their ideas and products. This could be in the form of paid events, such as conventions, workshops, and panel discussions. You could also work the publishing, promotion, and distribution end of their work. In this model, it's like you're the gallery owner or the art dealer rather than artist.

Notable examples include the Circles Conference, where creatives attend workshops and panel discussions, as well as network with each other. There's also Radiotopia, which is essentially a podcast network comprising of independent producers who make story-driven shows. 

7. Invest in Other Creatives

This is similar to the above idea, but you have more skin in the game by financially investing in other people's creative ideas. If you're especially savvy in business and finance, you can invest in the businesses of other creatives. This type of opportunity used to be restricted only to venture capitalists with a lot of money to invest, but with crowdfunding becoming more common, there are now many options for startups where early investors get equity in return. 

One disadvantage of this model is that it's a high stakes game requiring deep knowledge of investing and business. It's not an ideal entry point into the creative economy.

What Will Your Future Look Like in a Creative Economy?

Given all these options, you can start thinking of ways to use your existing skills and ideas to participate in the creative economy. You can use one of the above ideas, or blend more than two ideas together. The important thing is that at the end of the day, your ideas are deemed valuable and useful by others.

Editorial Note: This content was originally published in 2016. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

How to Change the Favicon in WordPress

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 05:34 AM PDT

we

In this quick tip, you'll learn how to change the favicon in WordPress. We will begin the tutorial with a brief intro of favicons by answering questions like what they are and why they are important.

Lets get started.

What are Favicons and Why You Should Use Them?

Favicons are those small images that appear in a browser tab next to the title of any webpage.

Not all websites write their names in the title for every single page that they have. The full title along with the website name might not always be visible even if they do append it at the end. This can make it hard to recognize which website are loaded in which tab. Favicons make this task very easy if either the website is very popular or you are its frequent visitor.

Favicon ExamplesFavicon ExamplesFavicon Examples

You can see in the above image that the first tab has loaded a Wikipedia page while the third tab has loaded CodeCanyon.

Favicons show up in a lot of places like the browser tabs we just discussed as well as on Google search results in mobile. They are also shown in user bookmarks and browser history.

This means that having your own custom and recognizable bookmark instead of something generic can help your visitors quickly identify your website and maybe increase CTR in search results among other benefits.

How to Change the Favicon in WordPress?

The exact menu items that you have to click in order to reach the final screen can be different depending on the theme you have installed. Just look around a bit under Appearance > Customize and you will most probably find the favicon settings.

Changing Favicon in Default WordPress Theme

The WordPress default themes come with built-in functionality to change the favicon of your website. You can do it in a few steps from the admin dashboard area.

Go to Appearance > Customize from the side menu.

Default Theme WordPress Appearance CustomizeDefault Theme WordPress Appearance CustomizeDefault Theme WordPress Appearance Customize

This should take you to the following screen where you can click on Site Identity.

Default WordPress Theme Site IdentityDefault WordPress Theme Site IdentityDefault WordPress Theme Site Identity

You can set a number of things here like the site title, tagline, logo and the favicon. Click on the Select Site Icon button and choose an image from the media library.

Default WordPress Theme Select Site Icon Default WordPress Theme Select Site Icon Default WordPress Theme Select Site Icon

This should update the favicon for your website like the image below.

WordPress Default Theme Changed FaviconWordPress Default Theme Changed FaviconWordPress Default Theme Changed Favicon

Changing Favicon in Premium WordPress Themes

Some premium themes might override the default customization setup of WordPress. This basically means that you won't be able to take the default path to add your own favicon. Your best bet in this case would be to just check out a few menu items. Here is an example from the Eduma theme.

Go to Appearance > Customize from the side menu. This will show you a bunch of items. Based on their names, General seems most plausible to contain favicon settings so we click on it.

WordPress Premium Theme CustomizerWordPress Premium Theme CustomizerWordPress Premium Theme Customizer

On the next screen, we click on Logo to change the site favicon.

WordPress Custom Theme General SettingsWordPress Custom Theme General SettingsWordPress Custom Theme General Settings

Here you might see some options about site title, tagline and logo. Scroll down a bit to find the settings that change the favicon.

WordPress Custom Theme Changed LogoWordPress Custom Theme Changed LogoWordPress Custom Theme Changed Logo

Final Thoughts

I hope this quick post helped you realize the importance of favicons and how you can change the favicon on your own WordPress website.

One last thing I would like to mention is that favicons will usually be scaled down for display on different devices and in different contexts. Therefore, you should consider using designs that are simple and memorable.

25+ Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Actions & Old Retro Styles

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 05:00 AM PDT

Step back in time with an extraordinary vintage photo effect! Check out this list of 26 amazing vintage and retro-inspired Photoshop actions.

26 Vintage Photoshop Actions

We'll always be inspired by retro styles. And there's no better way to honor the past than to pay homage with similar creations.

In today's selection of creative assets, we bring you 26 amazing Photoshop actions that help you apply vintage effects and old retro styles quickly and easily.

Add a few cracks to a modern photograph, or apply a beautiful sepia tone. Dive into various stunning styles to add allure and that old-world mystery to your work.

Handpicked from the latest premium sections of Envato Elements and Envato Market, these resources are easy to use for both beginners and experienced designers.

How to Make Photos Look Vintage

There are several ways you can make a picture look vintage, and with these tips and tricks you can age your photo in no time:

  • Add realistic static and scratches to your photos to create a vintage look.
  • Add a Polaroid frame to create a retro feel. 
  • Add a dusty texture with either brushes or a Photoshop action.
  • Add a light leak effect.
  • Turn the photo black and white or even sepia

These are just a few tips you could try out. For convenience and ease, why not try one of these recommended vintage Photoshop actions to try making your picture look vintage.

Cool Old Photo Effects: Photoshop Actions From Envato Elements

Do you like the vintage photography aesthetic? Then you can get it with these retro effect actions for Photoshop from Envato Elements.

50 Vintage Photoshop Actions (ATN)

This download lets you have 50 vintage photo effect actions for Photoshop. They each have unique styles and feels, so you can experiment as much as you'd like. It's a nice choice if you want to create retro pics in your latest project.

Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action Pack DownloadVintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action Pack DownloadVintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action Pack Download

Retrograde, Retro and Vintage Actions (ATN)

The color grading in Retrograde takes you through different eras of the vintage photography aesthetic. Whichever of the seven included actions you use, rest assured you're going to have an awesome old photo effect for Photoshop on your side.

Retrograde Old Photograph Texture Photoshop ActionRetrograde Old Photograph Texture Photoshop ActionRetrograde Old Photograph Texture Photoshop Action

Warm Vintage | PSD Action (ATN)

What makes the vintage photography aesthetic so enduring is more than the old photograph texture. It's the warmth that each retro pic has. This great Photoshop action download can mimic that feeling perfectly for your projects.

Warm Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop ActionWarm Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop ActionWarm Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action

75 Ultra Faded Retro Effects (ATN)

Our next example features this phenomenal pack of ultra-faded vintage effects for Photoshop. Choose from 75 old photo effects to add luxurious fades and incredible light leak effects. Just play the simple action to have each effect available for you. Switch between looks to choose the one you want. It's a great option if you want photo effects that are vintage to download.

75 Ultra Faded Retro Effects75 Ultra Faded Retro Effects75 Ultra Faded Retro Effects

21 Vintage & Retro Color Effects (PSD)

Photograph your best life with phenomenal color effects to match! This amazing Photoshop action pack includes 21 vintage and retro color effects that are easy to use and non-destructive. Create beautiful vignettes, noise, and unique color-graded effects with one simple pack.

21 Vintage Retro Effect Photoshop Action Bundle21 Vintage Retro Effect Photoshop Action Bundle21 Vintage Retro Effect Photoshop Action Bundle

Vintage Film Photoshop Actions (ATN)

Try out the vintage look on your modern work with this simple Photoshop action. Designed to mimic the look of retro film, this pack of ten Photoshop actions saves you valuable time and energy. Get inspired by the vintage work of Fujifilm, Rollei, and Kodak film for your own vintage photography aesthetic.

Vintage Film Effect Photoshop ActionsVintage Film Effect Photoshop ActionsVintage Film Effect Photoshop Actions

Myth Photoshop Action (ATN)

The vintage photography aesthetic was all about dramatic lighting. You can achieve that same fierce look with the Myth retro effect Photoshop action. Create a moody spotlight old photo effect with light spilling in from any angle. Just fill your subject with color, and then play the action to enjoy this vintage effect for Photoshop!

Myth Photo Effects Vintage Download Photoshop ActionMyth Photo Effects Vintage Download Photoshop ActionMyth Photo Effects Vintage Download Photoshop Action

Ghost Photo Creator (ATN, PAT)

Do you believe in ghosts? Now you can explore eerie paranormal effects with this cool ghost photo creator. Surprise your friends and family with old ghostly photos of you and your buddies. Just apply this one-step action to get access to ten scary vintage photo effect Photoshop actions.

Ghost Old Photograph Texture Photoshop ActionGhost Old Photograph Texture Photoshop ActionGhost Old Photograph Texture Photoshop Action

Silver: 28 Real B&W Film Emulations (ATN, PAT)

Add unique and realistic film grain emulations to your photography fast! This professional action has been calibrated to mimic retro film with 28 black and white films and 15 contrast vintage effects for Photoshop. Bring your cityscape and landscape photography to another level with this awesome action.

Silver 28 Real BW Film Photo Effects Vintage DownloadSilver 28 Real BW Film Photo Effects Vintage DownloadSilver 28 Real BW Film Photo Effects Vintage Download

Taboo Dark Fantasy Photoshop Actions (ATN)

Some of the coolest vintage photography aesthetics out there are incredibly dark and surreal. Now you can achieve that fantastical look with this Taboo vintage effect Photoshop action. Enhance your portraits with high-quality presets to add fantasy and mood to your work. Give it a try!

Taboo Dark Fantasy Retro Effect Photoshop ActionsTaboo Dark Fantasy Retro Effect Photoshop ActionsTaboo Dark Fantasy Retro Effect Photoshop Actions

Indie Camera Actions for Adobe Photoshop (ATN, GRD)

Become the indie photographer you've always wanted to be with this awesome Photoshop action kit. Featuring 17 experimental actions for any vintage photography aesthetic lover, this suite is easy to customize and use. Enjoy over 100 gradient maps to choose from for stunning indie color retro effects.

Indie Camera Photo Effect Vintage Download for Adobe PhotoshopIndie Camera Photo Effect Vintage Download for Adobe PhotoshopIndie Camera Photo Effect Vintage Download for Adobe Photoshop

Retro Photo Kit (ATN, PNG)

Can't decide on the vintage effect for Photoshop you need? Then download this fabulous photo kit! Included in this kit are 15 film Photoshop actions and 10 beautiful light leaks to help you create retro effects fast. Enjoy bonus additions like a retro date stamp and vintage font for more appeal! It's a great download if you want that retro, old photograph texture in your work.

Retro Effect Photoshop KitRetro Effect Photoshop KitRetro Effect Photoshop Kit

33 Vintage Grunge Photo Overlays (ATN, JPG)

These vintage grunge Photoshop actions are perfect for recreating that stunning old photograph texture effect. This retro effect bundle is also really versatile. You could use them for wedding photos or add some dread to your creepy vintage photography aesthetic. 

Vintage Grunge Effect Photoshop Action BundleVintage Grunge Effect Photoshop Action BundleVintage Grunge Effect Photoshop Action Bundle

Vintage Wedding Action for Photoshop (ATN)

The vintage effect of these Photoshop actions is subtle yet eye-catching. They're perfect for adding some style to wedding photography or other types of photos. Try out these vintage photo effect Photoshop actions and create the aesthetic of retro pictures.

Vintage Wedding Old Photo Effect Photoshop ActionVintage Wedding Old Photo Effect Photoshop ActionVintage Wedding Old Photo Effect Photoshop Action

Animated Retro Vintage Film: Photoshop Actions (ATN)

Not every old photo effect Photoshop action is meant to be static. If you want something dynamic, try Animated Retro Vintage Film. This photo effects vintage download is really easy to use and to edit. There's also a video tutorial in case you need help creating the aesthetic of retro pictures.

Animated Retro Vintage Effect Photoshop ActionAnimated Retro Vintage Effect Photoshop ActionAnimated Retro Vintage Effect Photoshop Action

Great Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Actions From GraphicRiver

You can find more vintage photo effects to download from GraphicRiver. Check out some of our favorite actions for retro pics in this section.

Film Noir Photoshop Action (ATN)

With the right styling and a quick Photoshop action, you can make any modern photo look believably retro. Let's check out this film noir action, designed to give your work that old filmography look from the 20s. Its ease of use is perfect for making multiple retro pics.

Film Noir Aesthetic Retro Pictures Photoshop ActionFilm Noir Aesthetic Retro Pictures Photoshop ActionFilm Noir Aesthetic Retro Pictures Photoshop Action

Vintage Old Photo Effect Overlays (ATN, JPG)

Make your photos look several decades old with this brilliant pack of vintage effect Photoshop overlays. A high-quality retro photo effect that creates a distinguished look, this effect works well on portraits and landscape photos. Just imagine a full set of your favorite photos with a cool old photograph texture in only two simple steps!

Vintage Old Photo Effect Overlays Vintage Old Photo Effect Overlays Vintage Old Photo Effect Overlays

15 Matte Effects Photoshop Actions (ATN)

Add a gorgeous matte filter to your portraits fast! Created for high-resolution photos, this set of Photoshop actions applies 15 stunning effects in just one click. Keep in mind that each retro effect will look different on new photos, but the result is well worth it. Try it out and make some awesome retro pictures!

15 Matte Retro Effect Photoshop Actions15 Matte Retro Effect Photoshop Actions15 Matte Retro Effect Photoshop Actions

VHS Effect Photoshop Action (ATN)

Create eye-popping retro pics for Instagram and more with this cool VHS effect Photoshop action. Inspired by the days when we had to pop those big tapes into VCRs, this action will give you authentic-looking static lines and a slight glitch effect. You'll love this one!

VHS Effect Photoshop Action for Retro PicsVHS Effect Photoshop Action for Retro PicsVHS Effect Photoshop Action for Retro Pics

Analog Film Photoshop Action (ATN, PAT)

Get the incredible vintage effect of analog film with a simple Photoshop action. This cool pack of old photograph textures features 30 color effects, 16 light leaks and so much more for added retro vibes. Incorporate fragments of dust and even scratches on your work to add an old photograph texture and age them significantly.

Analog Film Old Photo Effect Photoshop Action Analog Film Old Photo Effect Photoshop Action Analog Film Old Photo Effect Photoshop Action

Pop Art Photoshop Actions Pack (ATN, PAT, PSD, GRD, JPG)

Pop art saw the emergence of incredible artists like Andy Warhol in the 60s. And you can recreate his famous pop art look with this amazing Photoshop action pack. This suite includes ten official Photoshop actions with 40 awesome gradient colors to transform your work. Great for T-shirts and posters!

Pop Art Photoshop Actions Pack Pop Art Photoshop Actions Pack Pop Art Photoshop Actions Pack

Cinematic Effect-Photoshop Action (ATN)

One of the best ways to achieve that vintage effect style is to get inspired by dramatic cinematography. This old photo effect Photoshop action helps you create that realistic look with a non-destructive effect that's easy to adjust. Use it on personal photos, commercial shots and more for incredible retro pictures!

Cinematic Old Photograph Texture Photoshop Action Cinematic Old Photograph Texture Photoshop Action Cinematic Old Photograph Texture Photoshop Action

B & W Photo Effect (ATN)

Black and white photography was the first type of photography we saw. Now recreate that mysterious retro effect with this amazing Photoshop action. Simply load your favorite portrait or photo into Photoshop, and play the action. It will mimic the aesthetic of retro pictures in seconds!

B and W Photo Vintage Photography Aesthetic Effect B and W Photo Vintage Photography Aesthetic Effect B and W Photo Vintage Photography Aesthetic Effect

Wash Photoshop Action (ATN)

One of the biggest tells in the aesthetic of retro pictures is the amount by which the photo has faded over time. You can recreate that washed-out look with this brilliant, one-step Photoshop action. Designed and tested for versions CS3 and above, this old photo effect Photoshop action is smart and easy to apply!

Wash Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action Wash Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action Wash Vintage Photo Effect Photoshop Action

Lo-Fi Photo Action (ATN, PNG)

Take your audience through a mysterious visual story with this Lo-Fi vintage photo effect Photoshop action. Featuring three glitch types and several grains, this action lets you distort your photos in a cool, subtle way in no time at all. Save countless hours with this premium action!

Lo-Fi Retro Pics ActionLo-Fi Retro Pics ActionLo-Fi Retro Pics Action

Color Grading Photoshop Action (ATN)

The easiest way to create jaw-dropping retro pics is to learn more about color grading. With this high-quality photo effects vintage action download, you can apply 24 different color presets that are customizable and non-destructive. A simple user guide is also included to help walk you through each step.

Color Grading Photoshop Photo Effects Vintage Action DownloadColor Grading Photoshop Photo Effects Vintage Action DownloadColor Grading Photoshop Photo Effects Vintage Action Download

Show Us Your Vintage Designs!

Tried any of these old photo assets? Let us know! Tell us your favorite vintage photo effects in the comments below.

This has been a collection of premium resources perfect for the avid designer. For more Photoshop vintage photo effects, check out Envato Market and Envato Elements, or enlist the design help of our talented professionals at Envato Studio. 

Want to learn more? Then check out the following tutorials and resources to help you create a vintage style to your pictures:

9 Best Android App Templates With Maps Integration

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 04:28 AM PDT

Whether you are running a food take-out, tourism, or ride-sharing business, you need an app. And all these apps will be better with built-in Google Maps! In this post, I'll show you how to create Google Maps integration with an Android app using an app template.

FND is one of the many high-quality Android app templates with maps integration available on CodeCanyon.

CodeCanyon offers a wide range of Android app templates with Google Maps integrations so you don't have to spend time and money coding your own from scratch. By using a professionally designed app template, you will be sure to get your app off on the right foot. 

The Best Google Maps Integrations With Android App Templates on CodeCanyon

Discover some of the best Android app templates with Google Maps built-in ever created on Envato Market's CodeCanyon. With a cheap one-time payment, you can purchase one of these high-quality Android app templates. 

Here are a few of the best Android app templates with Google Maps integrations available on CodeCanyon for 2021.

Best-Selling Android App Templates with map integrations available on CodeCanyon.

Developing an app with a built-in Google Maps integration can be complex. By taking advantage of the Android app templates on CodeCanyon, you don't have to worry about this development process anymore.

The templates with Google Maps integrations on CodeCanyon have plenty of high-quality features that will help make your app that much better in the eyes of your customer. 

Here are the features that you can expect to see in these apps:

  • AdMob integration
  • responsive designs
  • GDPR compliant practices
  • Firebase Analytics 

Top 9 Android App Templates With Maps Integration (From CodeCanyon for 2021)

1. NearbyStores

The NearbyStores app template is another option for developers looking to create apps that allow users to find businesses in their area and, thanks to the integrated Google Maps view, to find the easiest and fastest route to them. 

The app is great for business owners as they can send push notifications to mobile clients to inform them about new offers and events nearby. It is also a great tool for customers who can access information about stores in their locale and can take advantage of reviews, comments, and ratings on stores.

Other great features:

  • Google Analytics
  • AdMob ready
  • real-time chat possible
  • supports multiple languages
  • integrated booking systems
  • Supports Paypal and Stripe payment systems
  • and more 

Here is what Autopop says about the app in his review:

"Best customer support! They help me to install and set it up. I've had a lot of emails, questions, they reply to each telling me exactly what I had to do!"

2. Catch The Monsters

If you loved Pokémon and want to create a similar app, then this Catch The Monsters geolocation game template is for you. As the administrator of the app, your job is to place as many monsters as you like in various locations anywhere in the world you choose. 

Users of the app search for the monsters around their area. When they get close enough, they can trace the route to the monsters using the integrated map feature. When they find and catch the monsters, they earn points, with the goal of getting onto the top 10 leaderboard. Users also have the option of sharing their stats on social networks and SMS.

Other great features: 

  • AdMob banners
  • comprehensive user guide
  • push notifications
  • stats and caught monster list
  • and more

User milkywaylabs says:

"Perfect app and excellent support!"

3. Event Finder

Do you need to show events that are happening around your audience's location? Event Finder gives your users the power to find concerts, music festivals, plays, and any other type of event that is happening nearby. Users can create a favorites list of events as well as view current news. 

Here are of few of this app's notable features:

  • point of interest and events are ranked
  • social login 
  • back-end geolocation and reverse-geolocation 
  • offline usage
  • AdMob integration

4. RealEstate Finder

Real Estate Finder has a very similar user interface to the previous app, Event Finder. You can easily find real estate with this app using the integrated Google Maps view and detailed filters. Each property has detailed descriptions and displays plenty of images.  

Here are a few of the features you can expect to see in this Android app template:

  • GDPR consent ready
  • offline usage
  • add, edit, and delete real estate listings
  • social login 
  • SMS integration

5. Store Finder 

The Store Finder app template allows developers to create apps that help users find stores near them and let store owners add their store to the app's listing. Apart from helping users to find their desired store, the app's integrated map also has a powerful zoom feature which allows users to view details of the store's location and go to the store details with one click.

Other great features:

  • store image gallery
  • shows reviews for each store where available
  • AdMob integrated
  • social media sharing possible
  • and more

User SmoothNerds says:

"They deliver excellent customer service. Great communication via Skype and fast customization. Will definitely keep an eye on their portfolio or ask them for future projects."

6. Listingo

This Android app is the ideal solution for service providers. The app is a business directory for service providers of all types and provides a way for customers to get in contact and even book appointments with service providers.

Note that this app that will work only with Listingo–Service Providers, Business Finder and Directory Listing Booking WordPress Theme available on Themeforest.

Here are a few of the app template's features:

  • Google AdMob and Google Maps integration
  • user profile management
  • One Signal push notifications
  • provider gallery
  • live chat

Here is what miguelcravero has to say about this template:

"Sincerely the best support service on CodeCanyon. I recommended 100% of their products."

7. Trid—City Travel Guide

Are you looking to create a handy travel guide app for your city? Trid is the perfect app template. This template allows you to list different locations in categories, and users can save their favorite spots.

Other features include:

  • weather highlights
  • the ability to ask and share
  • works offline without an internet connection
  • and much more

8. City Directory Android Native App

City Directory is an excellent template for creating an app that showcases your city's places and other essential details such as important phone numbers, websites, and operation hours.

This app will fetch data from Google Place API, so you don't need to add places yourself.

Other features include:

  • push notifications
  • AdMob integration
  • and much more

9. Ultimate City Guide

Another choice of app template for developers looking to create a guide to key locations around a city of their choice, Ultimate City Guide can be adapted as a guide for tourists and locals alike. City locations can be viewed in a list view, by category or by their location on a map. When users select a map location icon, they are given directions to the restaurant they've selected. The template also gives app owners five monetisation methods, including native ads and referrals to booking websites. 

Other great features:

  • supports user login via Facebook or email 
  • ratings and reviews of places 
  • sorting by distance, name, or rating 
  • and more 

User candrareza says:

"Awesome work! Clean Code! Very quick support!"

5 Free Android App Templates for Download in 2021

The premium Android app templates available on CodeCanyon will undoubtedly give you the most advanced features and the best possible user experience. They are complete apps with full source code—in many cases you can customize them to create your own working app, without any coding. However, if you're on a tight budget, you might not want to use a paid template. The good news is that there are free alternatives to these premium mobile app templates.

Many mobile app design templates or UI kits have been created by designers and are free to download and use in your own project. To create an app from one of these free app design templates, you will need to do all the coding yourself, though. The UI kit or design template will only include the layout and graphics for your app—you'll have to figure out how to turn this design into a real app.

Below is a collection of five great mobile app design templates that you can download for free in 2021.

1. Chat List Template Design

This chat list app template gives you a starting point for creating your next chat app. This template can also be implemented into any existing app idea you have that needs a chat. The template features a swipe left delete feature. 

2. Social App Template Design

Social App Template is a three-tabbed social media Android UI kit with 3 XML ready screens. The screens feature a clean and modern interface that will make for a good user experience. 

3. Wallet App Sketch Resource

This wallet template has three screens that feature a minimalist design. The screens allow you to easily see your balances and choose who you are sending money to. This template is a great starting point for any wallet app. 

4. Reports App

reports appreports appreports app

This app is a reports app concept for Android which would allow you to create, edit, and share reports on the go. The template design comes with 4+ screens that are eye-catching and will provide a quality user experience.

5. Login Signup Template Design

If you are in need of a login screen for your next app, then this template is ideal. Included with your download are two simple login screens where the user can input their email, password, user name, and mobile number.

Discover More Best-Selling Android App Templates in 2021

The Android app templates mentioned above are some of the top app templates available on CodeCanyon. However, these templates may be what your business needs right now or you may be needing even more templates. That is why I have linked to three other Envato Tuts+ articles that feature even more best-selling Android app templates that you can download from CodeCanyon right now!

This post has been updated with contributions from Esther Vaati. Esther is a software developer and writer for Envato Tuts+.

How to Make a Watermark in Photoshop

Posted: 26 Jul 2021 12:00 AM PDT

Final product imageFinal product imageFinal product image
What You'll Be Creating

If you're wondering how to create a watermark in Photoshop, there are two ways to do it: manual and automatic. In this tutorial, I'll show you both of these methods!

Watermarks have two functions:

  1. They let your audience know who the author of the image is.
  2. They save your photos from unauthorized use.

So if you want to learn how to watermark photos in Photoshop, keep reading!

Looking for a quick logo for your watermark? Head on over to Envato Elements, where you can pick from thousands of options, including this series of typography logos. These are perfect for adding a professional watermark to your designs.

Minimal Logo SetMinimal Logo SetMinimal Logo Set

What You'll Learn in This Photoshop Watermark Tutorial

  • How to create a watermark in Photoshop
  • How to turn a logo into a watermark
  • How to add a watermark in Photoshop with an action
  • How to add a watermark in Photoshop with a brush
  • How to add a watermark in Photoshop to multiple photos at once

Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

Tutorial Assets

Here's what you're going to need:

1. How to Make a Watermark in Photoshop Manually

Step 1

First, open the logo that you want to use as a watermark. Make sure it has a high resolution, so that it will look good on images of all sizes. The letters or symbols should be in greyscale—the brighter they are, the more transparent they will be in the end, so black and dark greys are the best choice.

open your logoopen your logoopen your logo

Step 2

Go to Edit > Define Brush Preset. Name it "Watermark Temp".

define brush presetdefine brush presetdefine brush preset

Step 3

Open a photo in a resolution that you work with most of the time. Create a New Layer and test your brush—see what size and color work best for your watermark. The location is not important for now.

experiment with color and sizeexperiment with color and sizeexperiment with color and size

Step 4

If you want to make your watermark semi-transparent, first take the Move Tool (V) and experiment with pressing the numbers on your keyboard—this will change the Opacity of the layer, so you'll be able to quickly test various options. Once you find the perfect Opacity, copy its value, take the Brush Tool (B) again, and paste it into the upper bar.

change the opacitychange the opacitychange the opacity
copy the opacitycopy the opacitycopy the opacity
Copy the value from here...
paste the opacitypaste the opacitypaste the opacity
... and paste it here.

Step 5

Now, go to the Brush Settings (F5) and click Create New Brush. Select all the options to save the settings you've just adjusted, and name it "Watermark".

create a new brushcreate a new brushcreate a new brush
new brush settingsnew brush settingsnew brush settings

Step 6

You can remove the Watermark Temp brush now. Your main watermark brush is ready to use—because all the settings have been saved, you won't have to adjust them every time you want to add a watermark. You just need to choose the spot and click to place the watermark there! But, of course, nothing's stopping you from readjusting the options if the image seems to require it.

testing new brushtesting new brushtesting new brush

2. How to Make a Watermark in Photoshop With an Action

Step 1

This first method is good and precise, but what if you have a lot of images to watermark? Then it's better to use a Photoshop action. To do this, open the Actions panel and Create a New Action. Name it "Watermark".

create new actioncreate new actioncreate new action
name the actionname the actionname the action

Step 2

Create a New Layer. Go to Edit > Fill and use any color.

fill the layer with colorfill the layer with colorfill the layer with color

Step 3

Press Control-T and make the layer 5% smaller in both dimensions. Name this layer "Border" and hide it.

resize the layerresize the layerresize the layer
layer resizedlayer resizedlayer resized
hide the layerhide the layerhide the layer

Step 4

Got to Edit > Place Embedded. Select your logo.

place your logoplace your logoplace your logo

Step 5

Select both the logo and the border layer. Take the Move Tool (V) and use the align controls on top to place the watermark in a spot that should work for any photo. You can keep the watermark in the center, to cover most of the photo, or somewhere closer to the border, like a signature. You can also change the dimensions to resize the logo.

select both layersselect both layersselect both layers
align the positionalign the positionalign the position
example positionexample positionexample position

Step 6

Double-click the logo layer. Set the chosen color in the Color Overlay, and the Opacity in the Blending Options.

add color overlayadd color overlayadd color overlay
Don't do this if you want to keep the original color of the logo.
color overlay resultcolor overlay resultcolor overlay result
adjust opacityadjust opacityadjust opacity
opacity adjustedopacity adjustedopacity adjusted

Step 7

Because this is an action, not a brush, we can use it as an opportunity to style the watermark some more. For example, if you're worried about the visibility of the watermark on various backgrounds, you can add a Drop Shadow and a Stroke. However, if your watermark is supposed to cover most of the photo, it's better to keep it as plain as possible.

add drop shadowadd drop shadowadd drop shadow
drop shadow effectdrop shadow effectdrop shadow effect
add strokeadd strokeadd stroke
stroke effectstroke effectstroke effect

Step 8

When you're done, right-click the layer stack and select Flatten Image.

Step 9

Now, go to File > Save a Copy and press Save without changing anything. Use the settings that you want to use for all the photos.

save settingssave settingssave settings

Step 10

Stop recording the action. Now all you need to do to add a watermark to a photo is to open it in Photoshop and press Play!

stop recordingstop recordingstop recording
play the actionplay the actionplay the action

3. How to Batch Watermark Photos in Photoshop

Step 1

Now you know how to add a watermark in Photoshop with an action, but to save time, you can use the Batch edit function. To do this, go to File > Automate > Batch.

Step 2

Make sure that the Watermark action is selected in the Play section.

select the actionselect the actionselect the action

Step 3

For the Source, select the folder with the images that you want to watermark.

select the sourceselect the sourceselect the source

Step 4

In the Destination section, select a separate folder for the edited images.

select the destinationselect the destinationselect the destination

Step 5

Check Override Action "Save As" Commands. Leave the other settings as they are.

check override save ascheck override save ascheck override save as

Step 6

Click OK and let Photoshop do its thing. Editing all the images this way make take a while, but you're free to run this process in the background and work on something else in the meantime!

batch action resultbatch action resultbatch action result

Good Job!

Now you know how to watermark photos in Photoshop, both manually and with actions!

photoshop watermark finalphotoshop watermark finalphotoshop watermark final

Logo Templates

You can use some simple text for your watermark, but if you want it to look good and complement the image, you should use a logo. If you don't have a logo, you can use templates and adjust them to your needs:

Minimal Logo Set (PSD, AI)

Minimal Logo SetMinimal Logo SetMinimal Logo Set

The logo I used in this tutorial comes from this huge set of 100 minimalistic logos. They're simple enough to be used as a watermark, yet so pretty that they will complement every photo they're on!

Vintage Logo & Badge (PSD, AI, EPS)

Vintage Logo & BadgeVintage Logo & BadgeVintage Logo & Badge

Do you need something more detailed and descriptive? These logos are artworks in their own right, and they will make your photos recognizable at first glance!

Heraldic Crest Logos Set (AI, PSD, EPS)

Heraldic Crest Logos SetHeraldic Crest Logos SetHeraldic Crest Logos Set

Minimalism is trendy, but sometimes you want something more—these beautiful logos are elegant and will work great as watermarks on wedding photography.

Technology Logo Collection (EPS, AI, SVG)

Technology Logo CollectionTechnology Logo CollectionTechnology Logo Collection

If you need something more modern, this set offers 12 logos with nice, simple icons, with space for your name and the tagline. They will work either as a black or a white watermark, or even as a full-color signature in the corner of the image.

Vintage Monogram Logo Pack (AI, EPS)

Vintage Monogram Logo PackVintage Monogram Logo PackVintage Monogram Logo Pack

But you may also prefer your watermark to be as simple as possible, so that it doesn't distract the viewer from the image. If this is the case for you, this set offers 26 two-letter signatures that look like little artworks and will fit every photo.

Recommended Tutorials

If you enjoyed this tutorial, you may also be interested in these:

Post a Comment

0 Comments