PDF Signature
Draw and stamp a signature onto a PDF - free, visual only.
This adds a visual signature stamp - a drawn image placed on the page, the same as printing a document, signing it with a pen and scanning it back in. It is not a cryptographic digital signature and provides no tamper-evidence or identity verification.
Draw your signature above, then click anywhere on the page below to place it.
What this tool does
Draw your signature, click where it should go on the page, and download a PDF with that signature image stamped there - the same visual result as printing, signing by hand and scanning a document back in.
Lets you draw a signature freehand, directly in your browser.
Places it exactly where you click on a rendered preview of the chosen page.
Embeds it as a real image on that page at your chosen size, with a transparent background so only the ink itself covers the page.
Lets you set the signature's width in points before placing it, scaling its height to match so the stamp doesn't look stretched or squashed.
Renders the page for placement using the PDF's real page dimensions, so the click position maps accurately back onto the original page even though the on-screen preview is scaled down to fit.
How to use it
- Choose a PDF.
- Draw your signature, then click where it should appear on the page.
- Download the signed PDF.
Why use this tool
Signing a document by printing, signing and scanning is slow. Drawing and placing a visual signature handles informal documents.
Why we built it
We built the PDF signature tool to place a drawn signature exactly where you click, and to say plainly that it is a visual stamp, not a cryptographic digital signature. Extract your own signature from a photo with the signature extractor and fill forms with the PDF form filler.
Handy alongside this: the PDF Markup, the PDF Watermark and the Flatten PDF.
Who this tool is for
- People signing contracts, forms and letters
- Freelancers returning agreements
- Landlords and tenants
When to use it
- Signing a form for an informal agreement.
- Adding a visual signature to a letter.
- Returning a signed copy quickly.
- Marking a signature position.
Why this is a visual stamp, not a digital signature
A real cryptographic signature is a fundamentally different, much stronger guarantee.
A genuine digital signature uses a certificate to cryptographically bind a signer's identity to the exact bytes of a document, so any later change to the file is detectable - that's a real security guarantee, not just an image. What this tool adds is a drawn image placed on the page, visually identical to printing a document, signing it with a pen and scanning it back in - useful for the many everyday cases where a visual signature is all that's actually needed, but it provides no tamper-evidence and proves nothing cryptographically about who signed it. Being upfront about that distinction matters more than it might seem, since the two are easy to conflate.
How the signature is actually captured and placed
The mechanics behind the drawing, and why placement lines up correctly even on a scaled-down preview.
Your signature is drawn on an HTML canvas as you move the mouse or finger, then captured as a PNG image the moment you click to place it - a transparent background, not a white rectangle, so only the ink itself sits on top of the page underneath rather than covering it with a visible box. The page preview you click on is rendered at a scaled-down size purely so a large page fits comfortably on screen; the tool converts your click position back into the PDF's real, unscaled page coordinates before drawing the image, so the signature lands in the same relative spot on the actual output file as it appeared under your cursor.
Signing a page doesn't touch anything else in the file - the rest of the PDF's text, images and structure pass through pdf-lib unchanged, with only the signature image added as new content on the one page you chose.
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Input | One PDF and a signature drawn on screen. |
| Controls | Position, page and size. |
| Output | A PDF with the signature image. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| An error mentions encryption | The PDF is password protected. | Unlock it first with the Unlock PDF tool. |
| A legal signature is required | This is a visual stamp only. | Use a qualified e-signature service. |
| Signature is too large | Size was set high. | Reduce the size. |
Assumptions and limitations
- This is a visual stamp only - it has no cryptographic properties, provides no tamper-evidence, and doesn't verify identity the way a real digital signature does.
- An encrypted or password-protected PDF can't be read and signed - it needs to be unlocked first.
- Only one signature is placed per download - re-upload the signed result to add another if you need signatures on multiple pages.
Frequently asked questions
How do I sign a PDF for free?
Draw your signature, click where it should go on the page, and download the signed result.
Is this a legally binding digital signature?
No - it's a visual stamp, the same as a scanned handwritten signature. It has no cryptographic certificate and provides no tamper-evidence, so treat it accordingly for anything requiring a real digital signature.
Can I sign more than one page?
Add one signature, download, then re-upload that result to place another - each download applies a single signature.
Does this work with password-protected PDFs?
No - an encrypted PDF needs to be unlocked first before it can be read and signed.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens entirely in your browser - your file and signature are never sent to a server.
How is my signature placed in the exact spot I clicked?
The tool tracks the PDF's real page dimensions behind the scaled-down preview, so your click is converted back to the same relative position on the actual, full-size page before the signature image is drawn.
Can I resize my signature before placing it?
Yes - set its width in points before clicking to place it, and its height scales automatically to match so it isn't stretched or squashed.