We've already explained several different ways that users can protect and watermark their images using Photoshop, and discussed the advantages to using offline methods for watermarking. But Photoshop isn't exactly the most economical choice and if you don't already own a copy, you won't buy it simply to watermark your images. There are several free alternatives that will allow you to protect your images, and won't cost you a cent.

There are free apps to watermark your images on the go using your iOS device, as well as more robust apps that allow you to batch watermark your images using your Windows or Mac computers, one of which includes many other features aside from just watermarking.

WatermarQue

The free Mac/Windows app WatermarQue, allows you to select the font, size, angle, colour and formatting of the watermark that you will use. Once you have settled on the appearance of your watermark, which you can see previewed in the program, you can select a target folder on your computer where the watermarked images will be saved. Supported formats include BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, PSD and TIFF. Exported images can be saved as one of four formats, JPEG, PNG, BMP or PICT.

watermark your images

Drag and drop the images you want to watermark onto the blue box labeled, 'Drop here', if you want to preview the image with the watermark before applying it.

watermark your images free

Dragging and dropping is also used to add images to the list of files to be watermarked.

watermark your images free

Select the folder that you want the watermarked images to be saved in, and once you're ready, click the "MarQue it" button.

watermark your images free

WatermarQue is convenient to use because of its user friendly interface and because it makes it easy to batch watermark images. The distinct disadvantage to using WatermarQue is there seems to be no way to alter the opacity of the watermark, so if you're looking to create a subtle watermark, this app is not for you.

Impression

iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users can benefit from the free app, Impression [iTunes link], which allows you to watermark images saved on your device.

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Select the image you want to watermark from your saved photos or photo library.

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Enter the text you want to use as your watermark.

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Determine the opacity and increase or decrease the size of the watermark using the pinch and pull method, after which you can drag the watermark to your chosen position.

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Unfortunately, watermarking using Impression is done one by one, with no batch feature, and watermarked images are saved as a new file in your photos.

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Impression is also available for iPhoto and Aperture, but unlike the iOS app, they are not free.

JetPhoto Studio [No Longer Available]

JetPhoto Studio is a great free Mac/Windows app that allows you to do more than just watermark your images. It allows you to create albums, publish your images to the web, offers some image editing options and much more.

As far as watermarking is concerned, it offers a slightly different method to the other programs listed here. Rather than use text to watermark your images, JetPhoto Studio allows you to use a PNG, TIF or BMP file to watermark your images.

The first step is to create a new album, determining the album's physical location on your computer.

how to watermark your image

Go to the Thumbnail tab and drag and drop the images you want included in the album into the window.

how to watermark your image

Next, go to the Actions tab and select Web Ready.

how to watermark your image

This will open a window in which you can determine your watermark and its position, and then batch watermark images, as well as resize them if need be. The watermarked images will be exported to the location you selected when you first created the album.

watermark your images

If you're looking for more free methods to watermark your images, whether online or offline, take a look at these articles:

How do you watermark your images? Let us know in the comments.

Image credit: Shutterstock