Sign a PDF with Your Signature

Put a visible signature on a PDF without printing it. Draw it with a mouse, finger or pen, type your name, or upload a photo of your handwritten signature, then place it, add the date and initials, and download. This is a visible electronic signature, not a certificate-based digital signature.

Drag & drop a PDF here

or choose a file from your device

PDF

Overview

What is Sign PDF?

Sign PDF puts your signature on a PDF without printing, signing on paper and scanning it back. You can draw the signature, type your name in a handwriting-style font, or upload a photo of the signature you already use. Then place it, resize it, add the date and your initials, and download the signed file.

It is important to know what kind of signature this is. The tool adds a visible electronic signature: an image or text placed on the page, just like a scanned copy of a hand-signed page. It does not create a certificate-based digital signature. It does not prove who signed, it does not attach a signing certificate, and it does not stop the file from being changed afterwards.

How it works

How to sign a PDF

  1. Open the PDF

    The first page opens, with all pages listed for quick navigation.

  2. Create your signature

    Draw it in the pad, type your name and pick a style, or upload a photo. Paper backgrounds are removed automatically.

  3. Place it

    Click on the page where it belongs. Drag to move and use the corner handle to resize. Add the date and initials the same way.

  4. Download

    Save the signed PDF. Your original file is not changed.

Examples

Examples: three ways to create a signature

MethodBest forWhat ends up in the PDF
DrawPhones and tablets with a finger or stylus; pen pressure is used where supportedTransparent PNG of your strokes
TypeQuick sign-offs where a handwritten look is not requiredYour name rendered as an image in the chosen style
UploadMatching the signature you use on paperYour photo with the paper made transparent and cropped to the ink
Date / initialsDating the signature and initialling pagesSelectable text in Liberation Sans

Signature types

Visible e-signature vs digital signature

A visible electronic signature is the same idea as signing a printout and scanning it, without the printer. Many everyday documents only need this, such as rental forms, permission slips and freelance contracts. Whether it is enough for your document depends on the law where you are and on what the other party accepts.

A digital signature is different. It uses a certificate issued to you to seal the file cryptographically. Readers then show who signed and whether anything changed afterwards. That needs a certificate and signing software such as Adobe Acrobat or a qualified trust service. This tool does not create one.

This tool
Visible signature image or text on the page.
Not provided
Identity verification, signing certificate, tamper seal, audit trail.
Already signed files
If the PDF has a digital signature, adding anything invalidates it. You are warned before signing.

Use cases

Use cases

Signing on your phone

Open the emailed PDF, sign with your finger, and send it back in a couple of minutes.

offer-letter.pdfoffer-letter-signed.pdf

Initialling every page

Place your initials on each page from the page list, then the full signature and date on the last page.

12 pages12 × initials + signature

Forms that need a signature box

Fill the fields with PDF Forms first, then continue here to sign without uploading again.

PDF FormsSign PDF

Tips

Tips for a clean signature

  • For uploads, sign with a dark pen on plain white paper and photograph it in daylight without shadows.
  • Draw the signature larger than you need. It stays sharp when you shrink it on the page.
  • Use the arrow keys to nudge the selected item precisely; Alt with an arrow key resizes it.
  • Protect the signed file with PDF Protector if it should not be edited casually.

Limitations

Limitations

No identity check

Anyone with the file could add a signature image. This is not proof of who signed.

Not tamper-evident

The signed PDF can still be edited by others; there is no seal that shows changes.

No signing requests

The tool signs your own copy. It does not send documents to other people or collect their signatures.

Typed fonts

Typed styles use handwriting fonts already on your device, so they can look slightly different on another computer before you place them.

Privacy

Privacy

Your signature and the PDF are processed in the browser and are not uploaded to TryFormatter. The signature is not saved between visits; create it again next time.

Related tools

Related tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a legally valid signature?

It is a visible electronic signature, similar to a signed and scanned page. Many countries accept electronic signatures for everyday agreements, but some documents need a certificate-based or qualified signature. Check with the other party or a legal adviser for anything important.

Does this create a digital signature with a certificate?

No. It places your signature as an image or text on the page. It does not add a signing certificate, verify your identity or lock the file against changes.

Can I use a photo of my real signature?

Yes. Upload a PNG or JPG. Light paper is turned transparent and the image is cropped to the ink, so it sits naturally on the page.

What happens if the PDF is already digitally signed?

The tool tells you. Adding a visible signature changes the file, which invalidates existing digital signatures. That is expected when you countersign, but confirm with the sender if you are unsure.

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