Watermarks, page numbers & Bates numbering

Sometimes a document needs a consistent mark across every page: a watermark for status, page numbers for navigation, or Bates numbers for legal discovery. All three are "apply to every page" operations.

Watermarks

A watermark is text (or an image) layered across the page — CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, a company name. Key settings are opacity (light enough to read through), angle (diagonal is classic), and colour. Watermarks discourage misuse and signal status at a glance.

Page numbers

Adding page numbers helps readers navigate and reference printed copies. Look for control over position (footer centre, corner), format (1, Page 1 of N), and a starting number so front matter can be skipped.

Bates numbering

Bates numbering is a legal and business convention: a unique, sequential identifier stamped on every page — often a prefix plus a zero-padded number, like SMITH-000123. It makes every page individually citable across thousands of documents in litigation or audits. The essentials are a prefix, a start number, and consistent digit padding.