When a draft goes to a dozen reviewers, a copy that names its recipient does two things: it discourages casual forwarding, and if a copy does surface where it should not, it says which one. Everything this adds is visible on the page — a diagonal watermark and a footer — because a mark the recipient cannot see is a tracker, and a tracker in a document someone is being asked to sign is a different product with different obligations. Paste the list of names, choose what the stamps say, and you get one file per person plus the distribution log that makes the exercise useful later.
Features
One file per recipient, each named after the person it is for
Visible diagonal watermark and page footer, both templated
Tokens for name, detail, date, copy number and total
A short stable code per copy, derived from the name and the document
Warns when two recipients would receive identical copies
CSV distribution log mapping every copy, code and filename to a person
Everything downloads as one ZIP, log included
How to use the PDF Recipient Copies
Drop the PDF onto the page
Paste the recipients, one per line, optionally "Name, detail"
Adjust the footer and watermark templates
Build the copies and take the ZIP, keeping the log
Example
Input
board-pack.pdf, 9 recipients, footer "Confidential — prepared for {name} on {date}"
Output
9 named PDFs plus board-pack-distribution-log.csv, zipped.
Each copy carries a seven-character code recorded in the log.
Common errors & troubleshooting
Two recipients have the same name. — Their copies would be identical and could not be told apart. Add a distinguishing detail after a comma — a company, a role, an email.
Some characters were left out of the stamps. — The built-in PDF typefaces cover Latin scripts, so names in other scripts cannot be drawn. The count is reported before you build.
The watermark is too faint to see on a printout. — Raise the strength. Around 12% reads clearly on screen; printers usually need 20% or more.
Building many copies is slow. — Each copy is a full document written from scratch. Fifty copies of a long document takes a while; the progress line shows where it has got to.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a tracking system?
No, and deliberately not. Every mark is visible on the page, so recipients can see their copy is identified. That is what makes it a deterrent rather than covert tracking, and what keeps it usable in documents people are asked to sign.
What is the code on each copy for?
It identifies a copy without repeating the name in full. It is derived from the name and the document, so the same person always gets the same code for the same file, and the log lets you look it up.
Can a recipient remove the watermark?
Someone determined can, as with any visible mark. The point is to make forwarding a deliberate act rather than a thoughtless one, and to give you a record if it happens.
Does this change the document itself?
Only by adding the watermark and footer. The existing pages, text and structure are untouched, so the document remains readable and searchable.
What is in the distribution log?
The copy number, the recipient name and detail, the code, and the exact filename each person received. It is a CSV, so it opens in any spreadsheet.
Related tools
Watermark PDF — Add a diagonal text watermark to every page.