How to Make a Signature Image for Documents and Emails

Many forms and documents ask for a signature, and printing, signing and scanning a page is a slow way to give one. A picture of your signature on a transparent background can be dropped into a document, an email or a PDF in a few seconds.

Draw it or type it

• Drawing looks the most like you. Use a mouse, a finger on a phone, or a stylus on a tablet.
• Typing is quick and clean. Pick a script style and type your name. The fonts come from your own device, so they look slightly different on each one.

The Signature Maker does both, smooths out shaky lines, and trims the picture to the ink so it fits neatly.

Tips for a good one

• Draw it large and then let the tool shrink it. It gives smoother lines than drawing small.
• Use dark blue or black ink, which looks like real pen ink and prints well.
• Use Undo to fix one stroke, instead of starting again.
• A touch screen with a stylus is better than a trackpad.

Saving and using it

Download the PNG, which keeps a see-through background. You can then add it to a Word or Google document, a slide, or a PDF viewer that lets you place images. If you need a white background, tick the option before you save.

What it's worth legally

A picture of a signature isn't a certified electronic signature. In many places a simple electronic signature is accepted for ordinary agreements, but some contracts, legal papers and government forms need a specific method or a witness. Check what the other side accepts before you rely on it, and never share your image publicly, since anyone could copy it.

Need to sketch something else?

For quick sketches, diagrams and notes, the Drawing Pad gives you a pen, an eraser, shapes, colors and undo, and saves your drawing as a PNG.