How to make a digital signature image

Step by step

1. Open Signature Maker. Go to the Signature Maker page on PlumPDF and choose Draw or Type.
2. Draw or type. With Draw, sign with your finger, a pen or a mouse. With Type, write your name and pick a handwriting style.
3. Pick the ink. Choose black or blue ink. Blue looks more like a pen on a printed page.
4. Make and save. Press Make my signature, check it, and save the PNG. The background is transparent.
5. Use it. Add it to a Word file, to a PDF with Sign PDF, or resize it for an online form with Photo and Signature Resizer for Forms.

Should I draw or type?

Draw gives you a signature that looks like yours, so use it when you can. A touchscreen with a finger or a pen works best, and a mouse is harder to control. If it looks shaky, clear it and try again a little slower.

Type is a quick option when you cannot draw well. You write your name and choose a handwriting style. It looks neat, but it will not match the signature you use on paper, so it is not always the right choice for a form that is compared with your ID.

Why a transparent PNG?

A transparent background means only the ink is in the picture. When you place it on a document, the page shows through and there is no white box around the signature. This is what makes it look natural on a Word file or a PDF.

Where can I use the image?

Once you have the PNG, there are a few common uses:

• In a Word document, with Insert and then Pictures.
• On a PDF, with Sign PDF, where you place and size it on the page.
• On an online form that asks for a signature file, after you resize it with Photo and Signature Resizer for Forms to the size and weight the form wants.
• On a scan with a signature already on white paper, Transparent Signature can remove the background for you.

Is this a certified digital signature?

No. A picture of your signature is not the same as a digital signature certificate (DSC). A DSC is issued by a certifying authority, is tied to your identity and can show whether a document was changed after signing. A PNG has none of that.

For many everyday uses, such as a letter, a form or an internal approval, a picture of a signature is accepted. Some government, tax and legal documents need a DSC or a signature in ink. Ask the person who receives the document what they accept.

Honest limits

The tool makes an image of a signature and nothing more. Anyone who gets the PNG can copy it, so do not post it in public and share it only where you need to. Keep the original file safe. Your signature is made in your browser, and nothing is stored when you close the tab, so save the PNG before you leave.

Questions