Signature Field

[anna08690]

Hi, Can someone please tell me how (step by step) to create a signature field that anyone can fill out (draw with mouse or stylus) without having to go through the digital signature process?  It seems I can only do this by clicking on "Convert to Adobe Sign Form" and when I do, the Submit button disappears.  This will be a downloadable form for tenants to download, fill out and submit to the leasing office. I've attached a screenshot of the form with a red arrow indicating where I'd like the electronic signature.

P.S. I tried inserting a signature line via "Convert to Adobe Sign Form", then back to "Revert back to Adobe Form", recreated the Submit button but then the signature box I created was only a text field (which became a problem when I made that field required).

I have searched for 2 days and cannot seem to find an answer to this question.

Thank You so much for any assistance  🙂

[Thom Parker]

Signatures are very confusing. The "Signature" field on an AcroForm (a regular PDF form) uses a digital certificate, which ensures the PDF has not changed since signing.

A drawn signature is a totally different type of animal and regular Acrobat Forms don't provide any kind of built in method for entering one.

A simple method for applying your own is to make a stamp of your drawn signature. 

For allowing other users to sign you can  ask them to use the Pen Tool. Most viewers have a pen tool, but the user doesn't always have a good drawing tool. A mouse is pretty poor.

On the PDF Expert viewer for the iPad a regular digital signature field will turn in to a drawn signature input, but this only works in this narrow scenario.

There are also 3rd party add-ons, such as the Topaz tablet that provide a drawn signature service.

The Fill & Sign forms are not regular PDF forms, They are a special variation with their own special variety of form fields that only work in conjunction with the Adobe fill and sign online service.  If a form is setup as fill&sign, then it cannot be an AcroForm. This is Adobe's answer to the drawn signature issue.

[anna08690]

So, how would I go about adding a non-digital signature field to a fillable form?

[Thom Parker]

Well, as I've outlined there are a number of different methodologies. Which one you used depends on how the form will be signed.

If this form generally distributed? or is it used by a well defined group? Is it accessed from a specific location or device?

[Thom Parker]

From you original post it seems that it will be generally distributed and probably viewed on a mobile device.  You need to make sure the users are using the Free Adobe Reader for Mobile. Or something equally as good. Then ask them to use the signature tool in Reader. Or if they are on a desktop, use the pen tool.