How to overlay a company letterhead template onto a pdf
- Step 1Build the letterhead as a full-page, transparent-body PDF — Lay out your header graphics, logo, and footer on a page the same size and orientation as your document (usually A4 or Letter, portrait), leave the centre body empty/transparent, and export it as a single-page PDF. If your letterhead only exists as a PNG or JPEG, run it through image-to-pdf first — the stamp tool only accepts PDFs.
- Step 2Open the Stamp tool — Go to the PDF Overlay / Stamp tool. It is a multi-file tool, so you will see a dropzone that accepts more than one PDF.
- Step 3Add the base document first, then the letterhead second — Order matters: the first PDF you add is the base document, the second is the stamp. Drop the report/letter first, then the letterhead PDF. The queue shows both files with page counts so you can confirm the order before running.
- Step 4Process the two files — Click Process 2 files. The tool embeds the letterhead's first page and draws it centred, fit-to-page, at 50% opacity, on every page of the base document. There are no further options to set.
- Step 5Check the body text is still readable — Because the letterhead is drawn at 50% opacity over the content, a transparent-body design is essential — a solid white letterhead background would half-veil your text. Open the result and confirm the header/footer band looks right and the body is clear.
- Step 6Download the branded PDF — Download
yourdoc.stamp.pdf. If embedding a full-page letterhead on every page bloated the file, run it through lossless compression before sending.
What the Stamp tool actually does (and does not) control
The overlay behaviour is fixed in code — there is no options panel for this tool. Plan your letterhead around these constants.
| Aspect | Behaviour | Can you change it? |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp input format | PDF only — the first page of the stamp PDF is used | No. Convert PNG/JPEG letterheads via image-to-pdf first |
| Which pages get stamped | Every page of the base document | No. There is no page-range selector |
| Position | Centred on each page (horizontal + vertical centre) | No. Design a full-page letterhead so the header lands at the top |
| Scale | Fit-to-page: scaled down to fit, never enlarged (scale capped at 1.0) | No. Make the letterhead the same size as the document page |
| Opacity | Fixed 50% — the letterhead is semi-transparent | No. Bake the desired darkness into the letterhead artwork itself |
| Z-order | Drawn on top of existing page content | No. Keep the body of the letterhead transparent so text shows through |
Letterhead-PDF design checklist
Get these right in your design tool before stamping; the tool cannot fix them afterwards.
| Design property | Recommended | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Page size | Match the document (A4 = 595×842 pt, Letter = 612×792 pt) | A mismatched size gets fit-scaled and re-centred, so a Letter letterhead on an A4 doc shrinks and floats |
| Body area | Fully transparent (no white fill) | At 50% opacity a solid background would grey-veil your document text |
| Header/footer ink | Roughly twice as dark as you want it to appear | It paints at 50% opacity, so design colours render lighter than authored |
| Pages in stamp file | Exactly one | Only the first page is used; extra pages are ignored |
| Orientation | Same as the document (portrait/landscape) | An orientation mismatch leaves the letterhead mis-aligned after centring |
Free vs Pro limits (PDF tools)
Limits apply per file. The stamp tool processes a base PDF plus a stamp PDF.
| Limit | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size (per PDF) | 2 MB | 50 MB |
| Page limit (per PDF) | 50 pages | 500 pages |
| Processing location | Your browser | Your browser |
Cookbook
Concrete letterhead scenarios and exactly what the centred, 50%-opacity, every-page overlay produces.
Branding a 12-page generated quote
An ERP exports a plain 12-page quotation. You want every page to carry the firm's letterhead band.
Inputs (added in this order): 1. quote-2026-0412.pdf (base, 12 pages, A4) 2. letterhead-a4.pdf (stamp, 1 page, A4, transparent body) Process 2 files → letterhead drawn centred + fit-to-page at 50% opacity on ALL 12 pages Output: quote-2026-0412.stamp.pdf (12 pages, branded)
Letterhead only exists as a PNG
Marketing handed you a transparent PNG of the letterhead. The stamp tool will not accept it directly.
Step 1 — image-to-pdf: letterhead.png → letterhead.pdf (single A4 page) Step 2 — pdf-stamp: base: letter.pdf stamp: letterhead.pdf → letter.stamp.pdf
Why the body text looks greyed out
The letterhead was exported with a solid white page background instead of a transparent body.
Symptom: document text appears washed-out / 50% grey
Cause: stamp draws at fixed 50% opacity OVER the text,
and the white background is half-painting on top.
Fix: re-export the letterhead with NO page fill
(transparent body) — only header/footer ink.Header sits too low on the page
A small header-only graphic was used as the stamp, so it centred in the middle of the page.
Wrong stamp: header-strip.pdf (a 595x120 pt strip) → gets centred vertically → lands mid-page Right stamp: full-page-letterhead.pdf (595x842 pt) with the header at the top of the page and the rest transparent → header lands at the top
Mixed A4 + Letter pages in one document
A merged document has some A4 and some Letter pages. Fit-to-page keeps the letterhead inside each page.
base: merged.pdf (pages 1-3 A4, pages 4-6 Letter) stamp: letterhead-a4.pdf Each page: scale = min(pageW/stampW, pageH/stampH, 1) → A4 pages: scale 1.0 (exact fit) → Letter pages: slight down-scale, re-centred No page overflows; alignment is consistent enough for a header band.
Edge cases and what actually happens
You uploaded only the base PDF (no stamp)
errorThe tool requires two files. With fewer than two it refuses to run ("Upload a base PDF and a stamp PDF.") and the Process button stays disabled until a second PDF is queued. Add the letterhead PDF as the second file.
Letterhead supplied as PNG or JPEG
invalid inputThe stamp tool only accepts PDFs — an image dropped as the stamp will be rejected as a non-PDF. Convert it with image-to-pdf into a single-page PDF first, then use that as the stamp.
Letterhead body is opaque white
design issueBecause the overlay is drawn at a fixed 50% opacity on top of the document, a solid white letterhead background half-covers your text and it looks greyed out. There is no opacity control to compensate — re-export the letterhead with a transparent body so only the header/footer artwork paints.
You wanted the header on page 1 only
By designThe stamp is applied to every page; there is no page selector. For letterhead this is usually correct. If you genuinely need it on one page only, extract that page with the page tools, stamp it, then merge it back — or accept the every-page behaviour.
Stamp PDF has multiple pages
first page usedOnly the first page of the stamp PDF is embedded and reused on every base page. Additional pages in the stamp file are ignored. Make your letterhead a single-page PDF to avoid confusion.
Letterhead colours print lighter than designed
ExpectedThe 50% opacity applies to printing too — a navy header authored at full strength prints as a muted blue. Author the artwork roughly twice as dark as the target appearance so the 50% draw lands where you want it.
Free-tier file over 2 MB or over 50 pages
tier limitFree tier caps each PDF at 2 MB and 50 pages; Pro raises this to 50 MB and 500 pages. A long scanned report can blow the free cap — compress it losslessly first or upgrade.
Letterhead and document are different sizes
fit + centreA Letter-size letterhead on an A4 document is scaled down to fit and re-centred, so the header no longer hugs the top edge precisely. Always export the letterhead at the exact size and orientation of the document for a clean band.
Output file is much larger than the input
ExpectedEmbedding a full-page letterhead on every page adds artwork to each page, so the file grows. Run the result through lossless compression if size matters for emailing.
Encrypted / password-protected base PDF
SupportedThe engine loads with encryption ignored where possible, but a strongly encrypted base can fail to parse. Remove the password first with the unlock tools, then stamp the decrypted copy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload my letterhead as a PNG or JPEG?
No — the Stamp tool only accepts PDFs for both the base document and the stamp. If your letterhead is a PNG or JPEG, convert it to a single-page PDF first with image-to-pdf, then use that PDF as the stamp. Designing the letterhead at the same page size as your document gives the cleanest result.
Why is my document text greyed out after stamping?
The letterhead is drawn at a fixed 50% opacity on top of your content, so if the letterhead PDF has a solid (white) page background, that background half-covers your text. The fix is in your letterhead design: export it with a transparent body so only the header and footer artwork paint, and the document text shows through the middle at full strength.
Can I put the letterhead only on the first page?
Not directly — the overlay is applied to every page and there is no page-range option. For letterhead that is usually what you want. If you specifically need a single page, isolate that page with the page tools, stamp it, then merge it back with pdf-merge.
Can I control where the letterhead sits or how big it is?
No. The stamp is always centred and scaled to fit the page (never enlarged). There is no position or size control in this tool. To make a header land at the top, design a full-page letterhead PDF with the header at the top of the page and the rest of the page transparent — then centring places it exactly where you drew it.
Why does only the first page of my letterhead PDF get used?
By design — the tool embeds the first page of the stamp PDF and reuses it on every base page. Any extra pages in the stamp file are ignored. Keep your letterhead as a one-page PDF.
Does the order I add the files matter?
Yes. The first PDF you add is treated as the base document and the second as the stamp/letterhead. Add the report or letter first, then the letterhead. The file queue shows both with page counts so you can confirm before processing.
Will the colours print correctly?
The letterhead prints at the same fixed 50% opacity it shows on screen, so colours appear lighter than authored. Compensate by designing the artwork darker — roughly double strength — so the 50% draw lands at your intended shade.
My letterhead and document are different page sizes — is that a problem?
It works but the alignment drifts. A differently-sized letterhead is scaled to fit and re-centred, so the header may not hug the top edge. For a precise band, export the letterhead at the exact size and orientation of the document (A4 portrait letterhead for an A4 portrait document).
Is my document uploaded to a server?
No. Both PDFs are processed entirely in your browser with pdf-lib — the base document and the letterhead never leave your device. Only an anonymous usage counter is recorded when you are signed in.
How big a PDF can I stamp?
On the free tier each PDF is capped at 2 MB and 50 pages; Pro raises this to 50 MB and 500 pages. These limits apply to the base document and the stamp file independently.
The stamped file is much bigger — how do I shrink it?
Embedding a full-page letterhead on every page increases the file size. Run the output through lossless compression, which keeps text selectable while removing redundancy. Avoid lossy compression here since it would rasterise your crisp letterhead and text.
What is the difference between this and the watermark tool?
The watermark tool draws diagonal text (with adjustable opacity and font size) across pages — good for "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL". The Stamp tool overlays a whole PDF page (your designed letterhead) centred at fixed 50% opacity. Use watermark for text marks; use stamp for graphical letterheads and templates.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.