Signature graphic going behind form field so not visible

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 22, 2024
3 replies
6205 views

I'm trying to sign a PDF form by inserting an image of my signature (a transparent png) using Acrobat Pro 2020.

However when I place the image over the form field where the sig is supposed to be displayed, it appears behind the form field instead of in front of it - even after selecting the sig and then selecting Arrange > Bring to Front on the right-click menu.

PDF attached so that you can see the problem.

How can I fix it?

Thanks for your help

Dave

2107040-Comms-photography-consent-form_1-1.pdf

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Correct answer MikelKlink

Hi @MikelKlink

I thought that was how I'd inserted the sig in the attachment on my original post, but just in case it wasn't, I've definitely inserted my sig using a custom stamp in the PDF I've attached to this post. however, I still can't see any way of bringing the sig to the front. The option to do so isn't on my right-click menu. Any ideas?

Dave

Hhmm, that is interesting. Apparently the Acrobat App pulls the form field widget over the other annotations. Probably to prevent arbitrary annotations from covering form field fill-ins (which strictly speaking is what you're trying to do) and so mislead the next viewing user in regard to the actual form content (which is not your intention).

Ok, I see two options:

You can configure the form field properties and set its fill color to none. This allows any image (be it in an annotation or in the static page content) underneath to be visible.
You can use a push button instead of the stamp annotation, set it to icon-only, and select your signature as icon. This button now can be positioned over other form fields.

MikelKlink

Participating Frequently

I'm trying to sign a PDF form by inserting an image of my signature (a transparent png) using Acrobat Pro 2020.

However when I place the image over the form field where the sig is supposed to be displayed, it appears behind the form field instead of in front of it - even after selecting the sig and then selecting Arrange > Bring to Front on the right-click menu.

As @Bernd Alheit already hinted at, AcroForm form field widgets are annotations, and annotations are always on top of the static page content.

In your case the "signature field" is an AcroForm text field (which is quite weird unless a typed name is considered a sufficient signature by the form creator) with an opaque background, and you add the bitmap image on top of the static page content. Thus, the signature field covers your image.

How can I fix it?

In addition to adding the image to the static page content, you can remove that form field. Then the bitmap image should be visible.

Alternatively you can add an annotation containing your image. This new annotation can be lifted above the form field widget annotation.

D

DaveRadoAuthor

Known Participant

Hi @MikelKlink

Re, your suggestion "ou can add an annotation containing your image. This new annotation can be lifted above the form field widget annotation."

How do I do that? I've looked it up in Adobe help but can't see how to do it.

Thanks

Dave

MikelKlink

Participating Frequently

I'm not sure how exactly it is done in your Acrobat Pro 2020 version. In the current Acrobat DCI can use a custom stamp for that. In the "Add a stamp" tool you can define a custom stamp, e.g. with your signature, (Custom stamps --> Create) and then use it to add signature stamps. Don't forget to loock it in its properties.