How to draw a signature on a PDF in Chrome

To draw a signature on a PDF in Chrome, open the file in Sign PDF, set the pen color and stroke width, and draw on the signature line. Download the edited PDF and reopen it before you share it. This creates a visible electronic signature, not a certificate-based digital signature.

Set up the PDF and pen

The Sign PDF Chrome Web Store listing says you can open the extension from Chrome's toolbar, then drop in a local PDF or choose Select Files. Check which page contains the signature line before you draw. If the document has more than one page, use the page controls and zoom to inspect the space around that line.

Choose a pen color that will show against the page. Set the stroke width before drawing, as the extension's instructions describe. On a narrow signature line, a modest width can keep the letters from merging into a dark block. No pen setting can tell you whether a recipient will accept the document.

Draw, place, and check the signature

1. Select the drawing option in Sign PDF and draw your signature with the mouse.
2. Place the mark on the intended signature line. Keep it clear of printed instructions and nearby fields.
3. Zoom in to inspect the stroke. Then view the whole page: a mark that looks fine up close may be too small at normal reading size.
4. If a stroke or placement is wrong, use Undo for the recent change and draw it again. The product listing describes undo, page navigation, and zoom.

If you also need to add a printed name or date, use the text tool and place each item beside its label. Sign PDF describes adding new text; it does not promise to replace text already in the PDF.

Check the file you will send

Move through the relevant pages before selecting Download. Open the downloaded PDF and find the signed page again. Is the mark on the intended line? Can you read it at normal size? Does it cover a date, name, or other text? Check any text you added, too. Keep the unsigned original in case you need to start over.

The extension's listing says local PDFs are processed on your computer and can be signed offline after installation. A PDF reached through a web link still requires the link to be available when you open it. The workflow above concerns a file selected from your computer.

Check the requested signature type

A drawn mark is a visible electronic signature. It does not supply a signing certificate or verify the signer's identity. Adobe's certificate-signing instructions use a Digital ID for that different workflow. If the recipient asks for a certificate-based digital signature or a specified signing service, check those instructions before returning the PDF.

Already have an image of your signature? Use the separate guide to add a signature image to a PDF instead.

Sources

• Sign PDF in the Chrome Web Store
• Adobe Acrobat: add a certificate-based digital signature