

Since this is the first time I will be signing anything in Adobe Reader, I have to make a new digital ID for myself. So, you select OK and then just draw out a box where you want to put a signature.

Now let's take a look at the more formal digital signature capabilities within Adobe Reader that actually help protect the integrity of the document.įirst if someone has not provided signature fields within a document, you can still use a digital signature by going again under the tools menu, selecting Place Signature, and it tells you to click and drag an area where you want the signature to appear.

Of course the more manual dexterity you have, the better the signature is going to come out looking. So I click on that and then anywhere in the document I can just hand write a little signature.

So I click on Tools and the first thing we're going to look at is Apply Ink Signature. Now I am back over in Adobe Reader X with my newly enabled form open and you can see that it says that I can save data typed into this form and I have a Tools option here. Select that, and then you can see here that it says it will allow you then in Adobe Reader to sign an existing signature field. So, you just go to the File menu > Save As > Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features. I'm going to jump off the main topic for just a second to show how to enable usage rights in Adobe Reader when you're in Adobe Acrobat X Pro. Second warning sign would be if you look over here and there is nothing that says "tools", and the third warning sign would be if you go to a signature, click in it and nothing happens. So your three warning signs that a PDF file has not been enabled are right here - if it says you cannot save data typed into this form. The most important thing to remember about using signatures in Reader is that the PDF file has to be enabled before signatures will work. In this tutorial I will cover the two methods of applying signatures to PDF files in Reader: digital signatures and the new Apply Ink Signature tool. Reader X also has the capability to download certificates from the Adobe Approved Trust List which offers a higher assurance of certificate integrity.īut, if all you want to do is simulate a simple handwritten signature, Reader X allows you to do that as well. Reader X is now compatible with the PDF Advanced Electronic Signature Standard (PADES). How to create an e-signature in Acrobat X for use in ReaderĪdobe Reader X continues to offer the digital signature features found in previous versions, and it provides advancements in digital signature security.
