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ANTONIO5CDB
Participant
September 2, 2021
Answered

Add watermark to a digital signed and blocked pdf.

  • September 2, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 2481 views

I have a few of digitally signed and blocked PDFs. I want to add a watermark to those files without altering the content or removing the signatures. Is it possible to do this with Acrobat DC?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer JR Boulay

If you could do that, digital signatures would be useless.

4 replies

MikelKlink
MikelKlink
Participating Frequently
September 2, 2021

What exactly do you mean by "blocked"?

If you mean that the document is locked, then it is locked against (nearly) any change.

Or are merely some fields locked?

 

How exactly do you want to apply the watermark?

If by adding something to the page content, then that would invalidate any PDF signature.

If by adding a watermark annotation, though, signatures in documents certified with "form fill-in and annotation changes allowed" (in particular they must not be locked altogether) may remain valid.

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    JR BoulayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 2, 2021

    If you could do that, digital signatures would be useless.

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
      T
      Test Screen Name
      Legend
      September 2, 2021

      This is absolutely impossible by design. A "watermark" could be made that changed the meaning of a contract, how could it be allowed to add one?

        Bernd Alheit
        Community Expert
        Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 2, 2021

        No, you can't change a signed document with Adobe Acrobat.

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