How to Sign a PDF with a Drawn Signature
Signing a PDF used to mean printing it, signing with a pen, scanning, and emailing back. DocuSign and Adobe Sign solved that — at $25–40/month per user. For most personal and low-volume signing needs, you don't need a subscription. You just need a way to draw a signature and stamp it onto a PDF page.
Are drawn signatures legal?
In most countries, yes. The US ESIGN Act, EU eIDAS regulation, and South Africa's ECTA all recognize electronic signatures applied with intent to sign. A drawn signature on a PDF — created and applied with the signer's clear intent — generally has the same legal weight as an ink signature. For high-value contracts or notarized documents, check with a lawyer about whether a qualified e-signature is required.
How to draw and apply
Open Sign PDF, upload the document, and a canvas appears. Use your mouse, stylus, or finger (on a touchscreen) to draw your signature. The canvas captures it as a transparent PNG. Set the page number, signature width, and X/Y position percentages, then click Apply Signature. The signed PDF downloads immediately.
Mobile signing
On a phone or tablet, the canvas accepts touch input — sign with your finger or a stylus like the Apple Pencil. The signature scales the same as it does on desktop, so you'll get the same crisp result.
Privacy considerations
Your signature is sensitive data. PDFPuddle never sends it to a server — the canvas image stays in your browser, gets embedded into the PDF locally, and the resulting PDF downloads to your device. The canvas is cleared when you close the page.