Back to Blog

How to Add Image to PDF: Overlay Images on PDF Pages

By PDFGo Team
PDFAdd ImageOverlayLogoGuide

How to Add Image to PDF: Overlay Images on PDF Pages

Adding images to PDFs lets you overlay logos, stamps, or graphics onto existing PDF pages. This is useful for branding, adding watermarks, or including graphics in documents.

Why Add Images to PDFs?

There are several reasons to add images to PDFs:

  • Branding: Add company logos to documents
  • Stamps: Add approval stamps or seals
  • Graphics: Include charts, diagrams, or illustrations
  • Watermarks: Add image-based watermarks
  • Customization: Personalize documents with images
  • Professional touch: Enhance documents with graphics

How Image Positioning Works

Images are positioned using PDF points:

  • PDF points: 1 point = 1/72 inch
  • Coordinates: X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) positions
  • Origin: Top-left corner is (0, 0)
  • Common sizes: A4 = 595×842 points, Letter = 612×792 points

How to Add Images to PDFs

Step 1: Select Your PDF

Choose the PDF file to which you want to add an image.

Step 2: Select Image File

Upload the image file you want to add:

  • Formats: PNG, JPG, JPEG work well
  • Quality: Use high-quality images for best results
  • Size: Consider image size relative to PDF page

Step 3: Set Position

Specify image position using coordinates:

Horizontal Position (X):

  • Distance from left edge in points
  • 0 = left edge
  • 297 = center of A4 page (595 wide)
  • 50 = 50 points from left (typical margin)

Vertical Position (Y):

  • Distance from top edge in points
  • 0 = top edge
  • 421 = center of A4 page (842 tall)
  • 50 = 50 points from top (typical margin)

Step 4: Choose Pages

Select where to apply image:

  • First page only: Add to cover page
  • Every page: Add to all pages
  • Specific pages: Add to selected pages

Step 5: Apply and Download

Click to add image and download your updated PDF.

Common Positioning Examples

Top-Left Corner

  • X: 20-50 (small margin)
  • Y: 20-50 (small margin)
  • Use: Logos, small graphics

Top-Right Corner

  • X: 545 (A4) or 562 (Letter) - image width
  • Y: 20-50
  • Use: Logos, stamps

Center of Page

  • X: 297 (A4 center) or 306 (Letter center) - image width/2
  • Y: 421 (A4 center) or 396 (Letter center) - image height/2
  • Use: Watermarks, centered graphics

Bottom-Right Corner

  • X: Page width - image width - margin
  • Y: Page height - image height - margin
  • Use: Signatures, stamps

Common Use Cases

Company Logos

Add company logos to business documents, reports, and proposals.

Approval Stamps

Add approval stamps or seals to official documents.

Watermarks

Create image-based watermarks for document protection or branding.

Graphics and Charts

Add charts, diagrams, or illustrations to PDF documents.

Custom Branding

Personalize documents with custom graphics or branding elements.

Tips for Adding Images

Image Preparation

  • High quality: Use clear, high-resolution images
  • Appropriate size: Size images appropriately for PDF pages
  • Format: PNG works well for logos, JPEG for photos
  • Transparency: PNG supports transparency for overlays

Positioning

  • Test coordinates: Try different positions to find right placement
  • Consider margins: Leave appropriate margins
  • Center calculation: Calculate center by subtracting half image size
  • Multiple pages: Test on one page before applying to all

Sizing

  • Proportional: Maintain image aspect ratio
  • Appropriate scale: Don't make images too large or small
  • Visibility: Ensure images are clearly visible
  • Content balance: Don't overwhelm document content

Best Practices

  1. Prepare images: Use high-quality, appropriately sized images
  2. Test positioning: Try positions on test page first
  3. Calculate coordinates: Use page dimensions to calculate positions
  4. Check appearance: Verify images look good on all pages
  5. Keep originals: Save original PDF before adding images

Understanding Coordinates

PDF Point System

  • 1 point = 1/72 inch: Standard PDF measurement
  • A4 page: 595 points wide × 842 points tall
  • Letter page: 612 points wide × 792 points tall
  • Origin (0,0): Top-left corner of page

Coordinate Examples

  • Left margin: X = 20-50 points
  • Right margin: X = page width - image width - 20-50
  • Top margin: Y = 20-50 points
  • Bottom margin: Y = page height - image height - 20-50

Troubleshooting

Image Not Visible

If image doesn't appear:

  • Check coordinates are within page bounds
  • Verify image file uploaded correctly
  • Ensure image isn't too small
  • Check if image is behind other content

Wrong Position

If image is in wrong place:

  • Recalculate coordinates
  • Account for image dimensions
  • Test with different coordinates
  • Use preview if available

Image Quality Issues

If image looks poor:

  • Use higher resolution source image
  • Check image format (PNG recommended)
  • Ensure image isn't being scaled too much
  • Verify original image quality

Conclusion

Adding images to PDFs enhances documents with logos, graphics, and branding. Whether positioning logos, adding stamps, or creating watermarks, image overlay gives you complete control over visual elements in your PDFs.

Need to add an image to your PDF? PDFGo lets you overlay images on PDF pages with precise coordinate positioning. Add logos, stamps, or graphics exactly where you need them with cloud-powered processing. Try PDFGo today!