Protecting sensitive documents is not just about encryption—it’s also about making sure your content cannot be easily leaked through screenshots or unauthorized screen recordings. To address this challenge, VeryPDF DRM Protector now introduces a powerful new feature: Dynamic Text Watermarking.
Unlike static watermarks that remain the same for every viewer, Dynamic Text Watermarks are generated in real-time when a user opens a protected PDF file. These watermarks are not embedded inside the PDF itself. Instead, they are dynamically rendered on the viewing page. This ensures maximum security while keeping the original PDF intact.
By displaying unique, real-time information tied to each viewer, Dynamic Text Watermarks make screenshots traceable and significantly discourage unauthorized sharing.
You can try it online here:
https://drm.verypdf.com/online/
Why Dynamic Text Watermarks?
Traditional watermarks often use static text such as “Confidential” or “Do Not Copy.” While helpful, they do not directly connect the document to a specific user or access session. Dynamic Text Watermarks take this further by automatically inserting user-specific or session-specific details, such as the IP address, username, or timestamp, directly onto the viewed page.
This approach serves two key purposes:
- Deterrence – Users are far less likely to take screenshots if their personal information (like IP, username, or access time) is stamped onto every page.
- Traceability – If a screenshot is leaked, the watermark provides critical clues about who accessed the content, when, and from where.
Supported Dynamic Variables
VeryPDF DRM Protector supports a wide range of dynamic variables, all case-insensitive. Below is a detailed introduction to each:
1. User & Client Information
- {ip} – Inserts the client’s IP address.
Example:192.168.1.45 - {host} – Inserts the client’s hostname (reverse DNS of IP).
Example:pc123.corporate-network.local - {username} – Inserts the login username used by the viewer.
Example:jdoe - {useragent} – Displays the browser’s User-Agent string.
Example:Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64)...
(Tip: This value can be long, so use it selectively.) - {referer} – Shows the referrer URL from where the user accessed the file.
Example:https://universityportal.edu/courses/pdfviewer - {url} – Displays the current request URI being viewed.
Example:/protected/lesson1.pdf
2. Server Information
- {server_ip} – Inserts the server’s IP address hosting the document.
- {server_name} – Inserts the server’s hostname.
These variables can help trace which server delivered the content in multi-server environments.
3. Date and Time Variables
- {date} – Current date in
Y-m-dformat (e.g.,2025-09-26). - {time} – Current time in
H:i:sformat (e.g.,14:32:10). - {datetime} – Current date and time in
Y-m-d H:i:sformat. - {timestamp} – Unix timestamp (e.g.,
1737981736).
Extended Date/Time Formatting
Dynamic Text also supports custom formats:
- {date:d/m/Y} →
26/09/2025 - {time:H:i} →
14:32 - {datetime:d/m/Y H:i} →
26/09/2025 14:32
Individual Components
You can also display date/time parts separately:
- {year} →
2025 - {month} →
09 - {day} →
26 - {hour} →
14 - {minute} →
32 - {second} →
10
4. Custom Variables
- {custom:Key} – Inserts a value provided from a custom array.
Example:{custom:Department}→Physics
This is useful for organizations that want to inject their own identifiers, such as employee IDs, course codes, or project numbers.
Example Usage
Here’s how a watermark template might look:
User: {username} | IP: {ip} | Date: {date:d/m/Y} | Time: {time:H:i}
On the viewer’s screen, it may appear as:
User: jdoe | IP: 192.168.1.45 | Date: 26/09/2025 | Time: 14:32
This unique watermark ensures every user sees a personalized traceable mark while viewing the document.
How Dynamic Text Helps Against Screenshots
When a user attempts to take a screenshot, the visible watermark already contains their identity and session details. This makes any leaked image directly traceable back to them, discouraging sharing or misuse.
Unlike DRM measures that solely rely on access restrictions, Dynamic Text Watermarks add an active layer of accountability.
Try It Yourself
Dynamic Text Watermarking is now live in VeryPDF DRM Protector. You can test it online here:
https://drm.verypdf.com/online/
Simply enable the Dynamic Text Watermark option, choose your variables, and preview how your protected PDF will look with live-generated watermarks.
Final Thoughts
With Dynamic Text Watermarks, VeryPDF DRM Protector goes beyond traditional static watermarks, giving publishers, educators, and enterprises a powerful tool to deter screenshots and track leaks.
Whether you are protecting eBooks, training manuals, financial reports, or academic materials, this feature ensures that every copy viewed online is uniquely marked, traceable, and secure.