Mastering the art of signing PDF documents electronically can streamline your workflow and enhance efficiency when dealing with paperwork or contracts that require signatures but don’t need physical ink. For Mac users, there are several methods available to get this done.
Method 1: Using Preview App (Built-In Solution)
MacOS offers a straightforward built-in solution for electronically signing PDFs using the Preview app. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Your Document: First, find and open your PDF document in Finder or any other application where you’ve saved it.
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Open with Preview: Double-click on the file to open it directly into Preview instead of defaulting to another viewer like Adobe Acrobat.
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Go to Tools Menu: In the top menu bar where “File” is located, click on “Tools”. From there, look for an option titled “Annotations”.
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Select Signature Tool: Once you have clicked on the ‘Annotations’ drop-down, locate and select “Signatures” from within that submenu. Clicking here will prompt Apple’s cloud service to load pre-existing signatures if any are stored.
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Adding a New Signature:
- If your signature isn’t already uploaded, click the “+” button at the top of the window to add a new one.
- You can draw your signature on screen or take a photo of it with your device’s camera. Once you’re happy with how it looks, save your digital signature.
- Apply the Signature:
- With your saved signature now available in Preview’s sidebar under ‘Annotations’ -> “Signatures”, drag-and-drop your electronic signature to where on the document it should be placed.
- Adjust its size and placement as necessary by clicking and dragging within the PDF itself.
- Save Your Changes: After your digital signature is perfect, don’t forget to save changes to your revised document. You can do this via “File” -> “Export…” choosing a location on your computer or an external drive where you want to store or send the signed version of your document.
Method 2: Third-Party Apps
For those who require more advanced features than what Preview offers, there are specialized third-party applications such as Adobe Acrobat DC and online tools like Smallpdf or eSign Pro that provide similar capabilities.
These apps typically offer templates for common digital signatures along with the ability to customize various aspects of your document’s presentation before adding a signature.
Tips & Tricks
- Multiple Signatures: You can create multiple versions of slightly different signatures using both methods described.
- Printing and Signing on Paper: After finalizing digital modifications including electronic signatures, don’t forget that you have options for printing out pages should hard copy documentation be necessary too.
Using these guidelines ensures your PDF documents are legally binding with professional-quality digital signatures. This method not only saves time but also helps maintain an organized approach to handling large quantities of paperwork digitally in macOS environments.