Remove Image Watermark from ODT Using Python

OpenDocument Text (ODT) is a widely used format in open-source and cross-platform office environments, making it popular for documentation, collaboration, and content exchange. These files sometimes include image watermarks, which may appear as logos, approval graphics, or background illustrations used for branding or identification. When you need to share the file externally or repurpose it for a different audience, such images can become unnecessary or distracting. If you want to remove image watermark from ODT using Python, a Python-compatible document-processing component can help detect these images at a structural level and remove them without requiring manual editing. The method explained here also shows how to delete image watermark in ODT using Python, offering a clean, controlled approach to modifying documents without disrupting their styles, paragraphs, or embedded objects.

Steps to Remove Image Watermark from ODT Using Python

  1. Install GroupDocs.Watermark for Python via .NET using pip to activate image watermark removal for ODT files.
  2. Import the groupdocs.watermark package along with the groupdocs.watermark.search.searchcriteria module.
  3. Open the ODT document by creating a Watermarker instance inside a with context block.
  4. Instantiate an ImageDctHashSearchCriteria object and provide the reference image to compare against.
  5. Configure the maximum allowed difference value to determine how closely images must match.
  6. Scan the ODT file for watermark images that meet the criteria and remove each detected entry.
  7. Save the cleaned ODT document without the watermark by calling the watermarker.save() method.

The Python-enabled ODT processing engine used in this workflow examines the document structure and identifies images that resemble your reference watermark using DCT-based similarity checks. This technique is effective even if the watermark is positioned behind text, scaled to fit the page, or slightly modified in color or compression. Instead of relying on fixed coordinates or manual selection, the approach compares visual patterns and isolates only those graphics that match your chosen sample. This is especially useful for ODT files created from templates where watermarks appear repeatedly in headers, body sections, or background frames. By following the steps above, you can implement Python code to remove image watermark from ODT while keeping paragraphs, lists, tables, and document formatting undisturbed.

Code to Remove Image Watermark from ODT Using Python

With the watermark successfully removed, your ODT document becomes much easier to reuse or share without exposing any branding elements or sensitive graphic marks. By adjusting the matching threshold, you can precisely detect different forms of the same watermark, whether it appears resized, repositioned, or slightly modified, making this approach effective for both straightforward files and more complex layouts. This is especially helpful when working with lengthy technical materials, regulatory documents, or template-based content that demands consistent accuracy. Ultimately, this guide shows how to clear image watermark in ODT using Python and provides a reliable, repeatable process for generating clean documents suitable for printing, collaboration, or long-term archiving.

If you also work with Excel spreadsheets and need to clean up embedded graphics, take a look at our tutorial on remove image watermark from XLSX using Python to learn how to detect and eliminate logo-based watermarks from XLSX files programmatically.