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Key Takeaways

  • Remove photo watermarks in Photoshop using the Magic Wand tool and Content-Aware fill. Adjust the selection and use the Clone Stamp tool if needed.
  • Use GIMP's Clone tool to remove watermarks with precision. Consider using the Resynthesizer plugin for faster results.
  • Pixlr Express offers a free online option for removing watermarks using the Clone Stamp tool. Adjust the settings for more precision.
  • PicWish's Objects Removal API is an AI tool for removing watermarks. Make a selection and click "Remove" to process.
  • Picsart's AI Replace tool is ideal for removing watermarks on mobile. Brush over the watermark and generate multiple variations to download.

Whether you've updated your watermark and want to get rid of the old one, or simply don't want it distracting from your photo, we'll show you how to remove one. And you won't have to compromise the composition by cropping the photo... it will be as if the watermark never existed.

NB: We do not encourage the unauthorized removal of watermarks from photos to falsely claim ownership. This guide is intended for legitimate reasons for removal, such as updating your watermark or removing watermarks with proper consent.

1. How to Remove a Photo Watermark in Photoshop

If your watermark is a solid color with no transparent properties, Photoshop's Magic Wand tool can easily do the trick.

With your photo open, right-click on the wand icon in the left panel and select the Magic Wand tool. Using machine learning, this tool can cleverly predict the area that you're trying to select, like the letters and logos of a watermark.

Selecting a Watermark Using the Clone Stamp Tool in Photoshop

Hover your cursor over the watermark and left-click. If you're working with more than one letter or shape, hold down Shift as you click to select all of them.

Expanding the Selection Pixels in Photoshop

It won't be a perfect selection. To fix this, go to Select > Modify > Expand/Contract. In the dialog box, choose how many pixels the selection needs to be expanded or contracted by. I've shifted the selection up by 5px, but yours may differ. Click OK to confirm.

Editing the Properties of the Expand Selection Feature in Photoshop

Go to Edit > Fill. This opens a new box, and in the Contents dropdown, choose Content-Aware. Make sure to uncheck the Color Adaptation box. After hitting OK, your watermark should almost entirely disappear.

Editing the Fill Properties With Content-Aware in Photoshop

If some remnants of the watermark remain, use Photoshop's Clone Stamp tool to fix the imperfections.

Fixing the Final Result With the Clone Stamp Tool in Photoshop

If you're working with a transparent watermark such as in the image below, using Photoshop's AI Generative Fill tool is your best bet for getting rid of it.

Selecting a Watermark With the Rectangular Marquee Tool in Photoshop

With your photo open, select any one of the Marquee or Lasso tools by right-clicking on the second or third icons in the left panel. The Rectangular Marquee tool worked perfectly fine for my selection, but choose yours according to the shape of your watermark.

Opening the Window Options in Photoshop

Now, all you need to do is use Generative Fill. You might already see the tool in the pop-up bar after making your selection. If not, open Window at the top and tick Contextual Task Bar at the bottom of the options.

Using Generative Fill in Photoshop

After the bar pops up, select Generative Fill. No need to type anything in the text box, just hit Generate. The tool will generate three variations which you can find under Properties on the right. Select the best one, export the photo, and you're done!

Download: Adobe Photoshop for Mac and Windows (From $22.99/month, free trial available)

2. How to Get Rid of a Photo Watermark in GIMP

The most efficient way to get rid of watermarks using GIMP is with the Clone tool, and unlike Photoshop, it's completely free. Open your image in GIMP, right-click on the stamp icon in the top left, and select Clone.

Selecting the Clone Tool in GIMP

This tool works similarly to Photoshop's Clone Stamp tool by sampling a part of the image. First, ensure you set the Size of the Clone tool on the left panel. Hold down Ctrl and click or drag on a part of the image that you want to sample; stick to areas close to the watermark.

Using the Clone Tool in GIMP

Then, let go of the Ctrl button and click on the part of the watermark you want to replace with the sample. You can also hold down the mouse button to brush over it. It's time-consuming but allows you to be incredibly precise.

You can do this all much faster with the GIMP Resynthesizer plugin, most notably a version of Photoshop's Content-Aware tool. Select your OS under Installation, follow the instructions to download the files, and then locate and extract the ZIP folder on your computer. To install a GIMP plugin, copy the extracted files into GIMP's plugin folder.

Opening GIMP Filters After Making Selection

Restart GIMP and load up your picture. Make a selection of the watermark—I used the Rectangle Select tool, but the Free Select tool might work better for you depending on the shape of your watermark. Right-click on either the second or third icons in the left panel to access them.

Change the Heal Selection Settings in GIMP

Once you have your selection, go to Filters > Enhance > Heal selection. Change the settings if necessary and hit OK.

Touching Up With the Clone Tool in GIMP

Once complete (it can take a minute), use the Clone tool to sample and cover any remaining blots. As you can see, my selection heal wasn't perfect, but the Clone tool fixed it right up.

Download: GIMP for Mac, Windows, and Linux (Free)

3. How to Remove an Image Watermark With Pixlr Express

Pixlr Express is an online image editor, so you won't have to download any extra software. Since it's free, your options are a bit limited. Once again, you need to use the slow and steady Clone Stamp tool.

Selecting the Clone Stamp Tool in Pxlr Express

Go to Pixlr Express and upload your image. Navigate to the Retouch tab on the left panel and select the Clone Stamp (stamp icon).

Using the Clone Stamp Tool in Pixlr Express

Select Source in the Mode section and click or brush over the area that you want to sample. Then set the Mode to Paint and click or brush over the parts of the watermark that you want to replace with the sampled area. You can adjust the settings in the Brush section for more precision.

4. How to Delete a Watermark Using PicWish Online

PicWish is an AI photo editing app that also provides a variety of AI tools online. Its Objects Removal API works best for getting rid of watermarks.

Object Removal API on PicWish

Go to the PicWish Objects Removal API, select Start Now, and upload your image in the new tab that opens.

Once in the editor, either select the Brush, Rectangle Tool, or Lasso Tool to make a selection of your watermark. Zoom in and out with your scroll wheel and use the Hand icon to move the image around if necessary.

Removing a Watermarking Using the Brush Tool in PicWish

Once done, click Remove at the top and wait for it to process. Hover over Save at the top and select Free Image to download the result for free; keeping in mind that there will be a quality drop. To download a high-res image, you'll need to get a subscription.

PicWish Watermark Removal Result in Windows Photos

Above are the results... not too bad.

5. How to Get Rid of an Image Watermark Using Picsart

Picsart is one of the most comprehensive mobile photo editing apps, and the free version offers a range of useful tools, including generative AI. Using Picsart's AI Replace tool is the quickest way to get rid of a watermark on mobile.

Open the Picsart app and tap the Create button (plus icon) at the bottom. Scroll down to AI Tools and tap AI Replace. Select your image and, once in the editor, start brushing over the watermark with your finger. You can zoom in and out by pinching the screen and also adjust the brush size.

Once done, tap Replace. On the next page, you'll have to provide a text prompt; this feature is typically used to replace one object with another, not to remove something. There is a Remove option, but that requires a subscription.

If you're not interested in getting a subscription and don't want to replace the watermark with any particular object, there are two ways around it. First, try to describe what the scene behind the watermark would look like with as much accuracy as possible. Or, simply type "remove" or "blend" into the prompt text box.

Picsart AI Replace Tool Results Viewed in iPhone Camera Roll

Once you've settled on a prompt, hit Generate image, and Picsart will give you multiple variations. Tap Download to download the image directly to your camera roll, or tap on the image to continue editing it. There's a little bit of blur where the watermark used to be, but the results are impressive nonetheless.

Download: Picsart for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

There are lots of tools out there for getting rid of watermarks from your photos. Photoshop will give you the cleanest results, closely followed by GIMP. Opt for Pixlr Express or PicWish for no-download convenience, and Picsart for the best results on mobile.