Printing a document, signing it with a pen, and scanning it back in is slow and produces a blurry file. You can place your real signature on the PDF directly.
Sign in your browser
- Open Sign PDF and choose the document.
- Create your signature:
- Draw with a mouse, trackpad, or finger on a phone or tablet.
- Type your name and pick a handwriting style.
- Upload a photo or scan of your signature. A PNG with a transparent background looks most natural.
- Click Use this signature.
- Go to the right page and click Add to this page. Drag the signature onto the line and drag the corner to resize it.
- Need initials on every page? Click Add to every page.
- Click Sign and download.
The document and your signature stay on your device. That matters, because a signature image is exactly the kind of thing you do not want sitting on someone else’s server.
Tips for a clean signature
- Sign slowly and a little larger than normal when drawing; it is scaled down to fit.
- For an uploaded signature, sign in dark ink on plain white paper and crop tightly.
- If the form has fields you also need to fill in, fill them first, then sign, then flatten the PDF so nothing can be changed afterwards.
Visual signature vs. certificate signature
This method adds a visual electronic signature: an image of your signature on the page. It is what most people mean by “sign this PDF” and is commonly accepted for leases, offer letters, permission slips, and invoices.
Some processes require a certificate-based digital signature, which cryptographically proves identity and detects later changes. If a recipient asks for one, they will usually point you to a specific signing service.