Image: Wikimedia Commons

watermark

Faint image or device in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light

EntityQ43065

Subclass of: sign of authenticity
, mark
1
Sources
1.Stated in Art & Architecture Thesaurus
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Part of: signature

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

A watermark is an identifying image or pattern in paper that appears as varying shades of light and dark when viewed by either transmitted light or reflected light. These patterns are created from variations in the thickness or density of the paper. Watermarks have historically been used on postage stamps, currency, and other official documents to discourage counterfeiting. There are two primary methods of producing watermarks in paper: the dandy roll process and the more complex cylinder mould process.

Overview

All data

44 statements · 23% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Cause: variation criterion used: thickness
Has use: authentication
documenting objects of occurrence have role: papermaker
Different from: digital watermark

On other databases

37 identifiers linking watermark across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

23%

externally sourced

Source last edited July 18, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). watermark (Q43065). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/watermark-Q43065