Apart from Passport, most documents are stored and created on digital media. But what about authenticating these digital documents? Enter a digital signature – this technology helps you digitally authenticate a document instead of printing, signing and rescanning it. In this article, we will show you how to add a digital signature or digital signature for free.
We would like to introduce you to three safe and secure apps that allow you to add digital signatures to documents. We emphasize safety because we are sure that any document that requires your authentication most of the time contains confidential information. Moreover, all these tools are free to use. We’ll show you the step-by-step process to add a digital signature to your PDFs or other documents. But first things first.
Digital Signature vs. Electronic Signature
At first, both these terms sound interchangeable but they are not. There is a significant difference between electronic signatures and electronic signatures. Here’s what you need to know.
Digital signatures are highly secure and legally binding in most cases – because they use cryptography to link the signature’s identity to the document. Furthermore, most of the popular digital signature tools provide a signature certificate to ensure its legitimacy and authenticity. Digital signatures are also very difficult to forge, as they are essentially digital fingerprints.
A digital signature is a simple yet legally valid alternative to handwritten signatures on documents. However, they do not contain any authentication linking the signature’s identity to the document. Unlike digital signatures, they are not secured through encryption. Thus, this makes them vulnerable to forgery as they are essentially an image or symbol representing the signature.
4 best ways to add digital or digital signature for free
Based on the characteristics of electronic and digital signatures, you can choose one of two signatures when signing documents. You can use electronic signatures on documents that are not confidential or do not have any legal significance, and you can use electronic signatures on such documents.
However, most tools that allow you to add digital signatures to documents come at a cost. Therefore, if you do not want to take advantage of all the benefits of a digital signature, you can use a simple digital signature.
However, if you want strong security, encryption and authentication for your signature – you can add a digital signature to the document.
1. Adobe PDF Reader: Add digital signatures on Windows and Mac
The increasingly popular Adobe Acrobat Reader supports adding free digital signatures on documents. If you don’t have it installed, download setup for Windows or Mac to install the app on your computer.
Step 1: Once you open Adobe Reader, click on the ‘Fill & Sign’ option. If you don’t see the option after starting the program, you can click ‘All Tools’ to find the option.
Step 2: Click ‘Choose File’.
Select the document to which you want to add a digital signature.
Step 3: In the sidebar, you will find options to sign your document. Click Add signature.
Step 4: You can enter your signature or draw or upload an image of your signature. Choose your desired option.
Step 5: We entered and the tool suggested a signature when we entered our name. Now we will click Apply to create the signature.
Make sure you check the Save Signature box to keep the signature so you can use it when signing other documents.
Step 6: The signature will be saved and displayed in the sidebar. Click and place it in the area where you want the signature on your document.
Moreover, you can also change the signature size according to your needs.
Step 7: If you click on the three-dot icon in the signature, you will find other options to sign your document.
Step 8: When you are done adding the signature, click ‘Save Certified Copy’ in the sidebar.
Step 9: Select the folder where you want to save the signed document. You will be suggested a recent folder. However, you can also choose a different folder if you click ‘Choose another folder’.
Your signed document will now be saved in the selected destination.
2. Add a free digital signature on your Mac
Your macOS device has an inbuilt feature for adding digital signatures to documents. Let us see how we can do that.
Step 1: Open the document you want to sign.
Step 2: Once you open the document, click the Tools option on the toolbar.
Step 3: Click Annotation > Signature > Manage Signatures…
Step 3: Click on the signature option. Now you will get to add a signature. You can draw your signature with your trackpad or use your camera or iPhone.
After you add the signature, tap Done.
Step 4: Your signature will now be saved. Click on the signature option and select the signature you added.
Step 5: Place it in the desired area of the document. This completes the process of adding a digital signature to your document, and you can save the document on your Mac.
4. PandaDoc: Free Online Document Signing Application (Electronic Signature)
PandaDoc is another reliable tool for adding digital signatures. Moreover, the tool is also free to use.
Step 1: Visit the official PandaDoc website and sign up with your credentials.
Step 2: Once you sign up, click ‘Upload and send signature’.
Step 3: Click ‘Choose File’ to upload the document you want to sign.
Step 4: You also have an option to add recipients to the document. Otherwise, click Skip.
Step 5: Click Content in the sidebar and click Signature.
Step 6: Place the signature box in the desired area of the document and click on it to add your signature.
Step 7: You can draw, type or upload the signature. After you choose your preferred option, click ‘Accept and Sign’.
Step 8: Your signature will now be added and you can resize the signature according to your needs. Click Finish Document after you add the signature.
Step 9: Click Download. The signature certificate will be attached to the document at the end.
4. DocuSign: Best Digital Signing Software
DocuSign is a trusted and perhaps most widely used tool for adding digital signatures. However, this tool only offers a free trial, and for long-term use, you need to pay a subscription fee.
Step 1: Open DocuSign official website.
Step 2: Click the Start button.
Step 3: Register for the service and click Get Started.
Step 4: Click Get Started Now.
Step 5: Click Upload. Now you will have to select and add the document to which you want to add a digital signature.
Step 6: Select the source to which you want to upload the document.
Step 7: Once you upload the document, click Next.
Step 8: DocuSign allows you to invite other users to add signatures to documents. However, if you just want to sign the document yourself, check the ‘I’m the only signer’ box and click Next.
Step 9: Click Continue.
Step 10: Click the Signature option to add a signature to your document.
Step 11: You can choose a style from the presets based on your name, or you can draw or upload a signature.
After you add your signature, click Apply and Sign.
Step 12: Place the signature wherever needed in your document. Moreover, you can also change the signature size.
Once done, click Finish.
Step 13: You may want to send the signed document to an email address. You can click the Submit option to do so. If not, click No thanks.
We will now show you how to download documents to your computer’s local storage.
Step 13: Click Home and click the finished document option.
Step 14: Select the document you want to download. Furthermore, you will have an option to download only the document or the signature certificate.
Your go. That’s all you need to know about adding an online signature on Windows and Mac. If you have any other questions, check out the FAQ section below.
Frequently asked questions about electronic and digital signatures
1. Is my digital or electronic signature the same as my handwritten signature?
Not necessarily, as long as the signature can be verified for legitimacy and authenticated by yourself.
2. Are electronic signatures legally binding?
Correct. Electronic signatures are legally binding.
3. What is the price of DocuSign?
DocuSign starts at $10 a month.
Validate your documents
We hope this article helped you add digital and digital signatures to your Windows and Mac devices. As we mentioned earlier, we hope the difference between digital and digital signatures is clear so that you always choose the right one.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
