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PDF Usage Tracking ID

Embed near-invisible tracking ID/serial into page corners for distribution tracing

Embed a hidden trace identifier into PDF copies.

Features:

  • Auto or custom tracking ID
  • Optional per-page serial suffix
  • Near-invisible corner text overlay
  • Metadata stamp with tracking fields

Use pdf-usage-tracking-id-reader to extract IDs and per-page serials later.

Example Results

2 examples

Auto Tracking ID with Page Serial

Embeds timestamp-hash tracking id in bottom-right corner and appends serial per page

pdf-usage-tracking-id-example1.pdf View File
View input parameters
{ "sourceFile": "/Users/quyue/www/elysia-tools/public/samples/pdf/pdf-2026-02-19-source-4pages.pdf", "idMode": "timestamp-hash", "includePageSerial": true, "corner": "bottom-right", "opacity": 0.01, "fontSize": 4, "rotateDeg": 0 }

Custom Distribution ID

Uses a custom distribution tracking id in top-left corner with very low opacity

pdf-usage-tracking-id-example2.pdf View File
View input parameters
{ "sourceFile": "/Users/quyue/www/elysia-tools/public/samples/pdf/pdf-2026-02-19-source-4pages.pdf", "idMode": "custom", "customId": "DIST-2026-Q1-ALPHA", "includePageSerial": true, "corner": "top-left", "opacity": 0.008, "fontSize": 4, "rotateDeg": 0 }

Click to upload file or drag and drop file here

Maximum file size: 300MB Supported formats: application/pdf

Key Facts

Category
PDF Tools
Input Types
file, select, text, checkbox, number
Output Type
file
Sample Coverage
4
API Ready
Yes

Overview

The PDF Usage Tracking ID tool allows you to embed near-invisible, unique identifiers into the corners of your PDF documents to facilitate secure distribution tracing and forensic identification.

When to Use

  • •When you need to track the source of leaked or unauthorized PDF documents.
  • •When distributing sensitive reports to specific individuals or departments.
  • •When you want to maintain a record of document versions using unique serials per page.

How It Works

  • •Upload your source PDF file and select your preferred ID generation mode (UUID, Timestamp Hash, or Custom).
  • •Configure the placement, opacity, font size, and rotation of the tracking ID to ensure it remains discreet yet readable.
  • •Enable the page serial option to append unique identifiers to every page for granular tracking.
  • •Download the processed PDF, which now contains the embedded tracking data in the specified corner.

Use Cases

Watermarking confidential internal memos to identify the source of potential leaks.
Distributing unique copies of whitepapers or research to track which version was shared publicly.
Managing document distribution logs by assigning unique serials to every page of a multi-page contract.

Examples

1. Auto Tracking ID with Page Serial

Background
A researcher wants to distribute a sensitive 4-page PDF report to several colleagues and needs to ensure they can identify the source if the document is leaked.
Problem
Need a unique, non-intrusive way to mark each page of the document.
How to Use
Upload the PDF, select 'Timestamp Hash' as the ID mode, and ensure 'Append Page Serial' is checked.
Example Config
idMode: timestamp-hash, includePageSerial: true, corner: bottom-right, opacity: 0.01, fontSize: 4
Outcome
The PDF is generated with a unique timestamp-based hash and page-specific serials in the bottom-right corner, invisible to the casual reader.

2. Custom Distribution ID

Background
A company is sending a quarterly alpha-stage product roadmap to a specific partner.
Problem
Need to label the document with a specific project code for internal tracking.
How to Use
Upload the document, select 'Custom' mode, and enter the project code in the Custom ID field.
Example Config
idMode: custom, customId: DIST-2026-Q1-ALPHA, corner: top-left, opacity: 0.008, fontSize: 4
Outcome
The document is marked with 'DIST-2026-Q1-ALPHA' in the top-left corner, allowing the company to trace this specific copy back to the partner.

Try with Samples

pdf, file
PDF Samples
Generated PDF samples from tools dated 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-10
title token pdf
pdf
Markdown Slide Deck Samples
Remark/Marp style Markdown slide decks for testing PDF export layouts
preferred input family pdf
pdf
Tracking Number Samples
Collection of tracking numbers from major global carriers for validation testing
title token tracking
sample
Sentry Error Tracking Samples
Comprehensive Sentry error tracking and performance monitoring setup with SDK integrations for various platforms
title token tracking
sample

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FAQ

How visible is the tracking ID?

The ID is designed to be near-invisible. You can adjust the opacity between 0.002 and 0.08 to make it blend into the document background.

Can I use my own tracking ID?

Yes, select the 'Custom' ID mode and enter your specific identifier in the Custom ID field.

How do I retrieve the ID from a document later?

You can use the companion 'pdf-usage-tracking-id-reader' tool to extract the embedded IDs and page serials from the document.

Does this tool modify the original file content?

It adds a small, low-opacity text overlay to the specified corner and updates the document metadata with the tracking information.

Can I rotate the tracking ID?

Yes, you can rotate the ID text between -45 and 45 degrees to match the document layout or add an extra layer of obfuscation.

API Documentation

Request Endpoint

POST /en/api/tools/pdf-usage-tracking-id

Request Parameters

Parameter Name Type Required Description
sourceFile file (Upload required) Yes -
idMode select No -
customId text No -
includePageSerial checkbox No -
corner select No -
opacity number No -
fontSize number No -
rotateDeg number No -

File type parameters need to be uploaded first via POST /upload/pdf-usage-tracking-id to get filePath, then pass filePath to the corresponding file field.

Response Format

{
  "filePath": "/public/processing/randomid.ext",
  "fileName": "output.ext",
  "contentType": "application/octet-stream",
  "size": 1024,
  "metadata": {
    "key": "value"
  },
  "error": "Error message (optional)",
  "message": "Notification message (optional)"
}
File: File

AI MCP Documentation

Add this tool to your MCP server configuration: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elysiatools-pdf-usage-tracking-id": {
      "name": "pdf-usage-tracking-id",
      "description": "Embed near-invisible tracking ID/serial into page corners for distribution tracing",
      "baseUrl": "https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=pdf-usage-tracking-id",
      "command": "",
      "args": [],
      "env": {},
      "isActive": true,
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}

You can chain multiple tools, e.g.: `https://elysiatools.com/mcp/sse?toolId=png-to-webp,jpg-to-webp,gif-to-webp`, max 20 tools.

Supports URL file links or Base64 encoding for file parameters.

If you encounter any issues, please contact us at [email protected]