Printing a document, signing it with a pen, scanning it and emailing it back is a slow way to do something simple. This tool lets you draw a signature on screen and stamp it onto a page of a PDF, so an approval, a form or an agreement can be returned in minutes from any device with a browser. It is an image of your handwriting placed on the page, which suits many everyday situations, but it is important to understand what it is and what it is not.

Signing step by step

1. Upload the PDF you want to sign.
2. Draw your signature in the box under Draw your signature below, using a mouse, a stylus or your finger. Press Clear to start again.
3. Enter the Page # to sign. The default is page 1; a number higher than the page count is changed to the last page.
4. Set the position with X pos (%) and Y pos (%). The defaults are 10 and 20.
5. Press Apply Signature. The result downloads as signed.pdf.

How the position works

Both values are percentages of the page. X is the distance of the signature's left edge from the left side of the page, as a percentage of the page width. Y is the distance of the signature's top edge from the top of the page, as a percentage of the page height. The fields accept values from 0 to 90.

The drawing area is 600 by 150 pixels, and the signature is placed at 30 percent of that, which is a stamp about 180 points wide and 45 points tall, or roughly 6.3 by 1.6 centimetres. The edges of that box are what X and Y position, including any blank space around your strokes.

Because the signature is about 30 percent of an A4 or Letter page's width, an X value above roughly 65 can push it off the right edge. Make a first attempt, look at the result, and adjust by 5 percent at a time.

Drawing a good signature

• Draw large and fill the width of the box, since the image is reduced to 30 percent.
• Use a steady, smooth stroke; on a touch screen, rest your palm out of the way or use a stylus.
• Keep the signature centred in the box so the blank margins do not shift it away from the line.
• Clear and redraw until it looks like your usual signature.

Signing several pages

Each run places one signature on one page. To sign other pages or add initials, run the tool again, but upload the already signed file each time, because every run starts from the file you currently have loaded. Record which pages need a mark before you begin.

Tips for sending signed documents

1. Read the document fully before you sign it.
2. Keep an unsigned copy and the signed copy together.
3. Open the output and zoom in to confirm the signature sits on the line and does not cover text.
4. Consider flattening the final file with Flatten PDF if you want the signature to be a fixed part of the page, remembering that flattening turns text into an image.
5. Do not share a signature image publicly; copies of a visible signature can be reused by others.

Before and after you sign

Treat a signature as a decision, not a formality. Read the whole document, check the names and dates, and make sure you are signing the final version. After applying your signature, open signed.pdf and zoom to 200 percent to confirm that it sits on the line and does not overlap the printed text. If the placement is slightly off, go back to the original file rather than signing the signed copy again, otherwise you will end up with two signatures on the page. Store the signed file in a safe place, and consider emailing it to the other party immediately with a short message that confirms what you signed and when.

Privacy

The signature is drawn on a canvas in your browser and merged into the PDF locally. Neither the document nor your signature is uploaded.

Frequently asked questions