Add an "Intentionally Left Blank" Watermark to a Word Blank Page
Question details
The user needs to display a large diagonal "Intentionally Left Blank" watermark on blank pages automatically generated by Odd Page section breaks.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting a document where chapters must start on right-hand pages, which causes Word to automatically insert blank pages for printing.
- Observed behavior
- Standard watermarks do not appear on the automatically inserted blank pages, leaving them completely blank without the intended disclaimer.
Ensure your document layout is finalized and your Odd Page section breaks are correctly positioned before applying custom field codes.
Use a Custom Field and WordArt Object in the Header
Since standard watermarks bypass automatically generated blank pages, you must construct a conditional field code in the document's header to display a WordArt object only on blank even pages.
Automatically generated blank pages caused by Odd Page section breaks do not physically exist in the document editor. To place text on them, you must use a specific IF field structure within the header that identifies the blank even page and inserts an object.
Double-click the top margin of the page prior to your Odd Page section break to open the Header & Footer tools.
Press Ctrl+F9 to insert a pair of field braces { }. Inside the braces, construct a formula that tests if the page is an even number, such as { IF { =MOD({ PAGE }, 2) } = 0 "" "" }.
Place your cursor inside the true condition (the first set of quotes) of your IF field. Go to the Insert tab, select WordArt, and type "Intentionally Left Blank".
Select the WordArt object, format it to be large, diagonal, and set the text wrapping to "Behind Text". Adjust the transparency so it looks like a standard watermark.
Press F9 to update the field codes, then double-click outside the header area to close it. Check your Print Preview to verify the watermark appears on the blank page.
Easily Manage Blank Pages and Custom Watermarks with WPS Office
If you want to avoid complex field codes, WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface where you can easily insert manual blank pages and apply custom watermarks exactly where you need them.
- 1. Insert a manual blank page: Open your document in WPS Writer, navigate to the Insert tab, and click Blank Page where you want the disclaimer.
- 2. Access the Watermark settings: Go to the Insert or Page Layout tab, click on Watermark, and choose Custom Watermark.
- 3. Create the text watermark: Select Text Watermark, type "Intentionally Left Blank", and adjust the font size, color, and diagonal layout.
- 4. Apply to the specific page: Apply the watermark to the current section to ensure it only appears on your designated blank page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the standard watermark show up on my blank page?
When using an Odd Page section break, Word creates an invisible 'filler' page for printing purposes. Because this page isn't part of the standard editable document flow, normal watermarks are not applied to it.
Can I just insert a manual page break instead?
Yes. If you replace the Odd Page section break with a manual Page Break or Blank Page, you can directly type 'Intentionally Left Blank' or easily apply a standard watermark without needing complex field codes.
How do I see the automatically inserted blank page in Word?
Automatically inserted blank pages generated by Odd Page breaks do not show up in the standard Print Layout view. You must go to File > Print to see them in the Print Preview screen.
How do I remove the blank page completely?
To remove the blank page, you need to change the Odd Page section break to a Continuous section break. Click inside the section, go to Layout > Page Setup, open the Layout tab, and change the Section start to Continuous.
