Overlay PDFs — Stamp One File onto Another
Stamp the first page of one PDF — a letterhead, seal, or frame — on top of every page of another.
This tool takes the first page of a second file (such as a letterhead, a stamp, or a border) and places it over every page of your main document. Because the overlay sits on top of the content, its middle area needs to be empty so it stays transparent. It is a quick way to brand a whole set of documents at once.
How to overlay one PDF on another (3 steps)
- Open two files: your main document and the file to overlay.
- The first page of the second file is placed on every page of the main document.
- Apply the overlay and download the result.
When it's useful
- Adding a company letterhead — make the letterhead file once and stamp it on every page of a document.
- Stamping a seal or standard text — for example "CERTIFIED COPY" or a company seal in the same position on every page.
- Adding a border or document mark — give a whole set of documents the same look. (The overlay sits on top of the content, so it can't be used as a solid background.)
How it works
Choose two files. The first is your main document; the second is what you want to stamp on it. The tool takes the first page of the second file and lays it over every page of the main document, scaling it up or down to fit the page while keeping its proportions. Rotated pages get the overlay at the correct angle. The overlay is placed as vectors, so lines and text stay sharp.
Preparing the overlay file
- Design the letterhead in Word or Canva with just a logo and text at the very top and bottom, leaving the middle of the page empty, then save it as a PDF. The empty area stays transparent and won't hide your content.
- Use the same paper size for the overlay and the main document (for example, both A4) for the most accurate positioning.
- Don't use a scanned image of a letterhead — the white background of the image will cover the entire page.
FAQ
Can I use it for a company letterhead?
Yes. Create the letterhead file once, then overlay it on every document you send.
Does the overlay file need a transparent background?
PDFs created by ordinary programs already leave empty areas transparent, so the content of the main file isn't covered.
How is this different from adding a watermark?
A watermark is faint text you type in. This tool stamps the content of another, ready-made PDF at full sharpness, so it can include logos, ruled lines, or any graphics you like.
My overlay file has several pages. Which one is used?
Only the first page of the second file, repeated on every page of the main document.
What if the paper sizes don't match?
The overlay is scaled to fit the page while keeping its proportions. If the proportions are very different, the position may not match your design exactly.