How to add an image of your signature to a PDF

This article applies to:

  • Revu 20
  • Revu 2019
  • Revu 2018

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Sometimes, you may need to add a quick signature to a PDF. Instead of printing the document, signing it with a pen, and scanning the page back to PDF, you can simply add an electronic signature directly in Revu.

While an electronic signature differs from a digital signature, it’s still legally binding and ideal for certain situations like signing a purchase order.

You can create an electronic signature by adding an image of your signature with a transparent background or by using the Pen tool.

Add an image of your signature

The following steps walk you through adding an image of your signature to a PDF and making the image transparent, so the image doesn’t interfere with any information behind it.

For best results, use an image with a white background.
  1. Scan an image of your signature or email one to yourself via your mobile device.
    If scanning your signature, don’t scan it as a PDF. Only image files (.jpg or .png) will work for this process.
  2. Go to Tools > Markup > Image > From File and select the image of your signature from the File Explorer.
  3. Click-and-drag your signature on the document.
  4. Select Crop from the Properties toolbar. To remove any excess space, click-and-drag around the image.
  5. Now, resize the image and place it as needed on the document. The background will still be opaque, which means the image will block everything behind it.
  6. To make the image’s background transparent, go to the Properties panel and click the Mask Color icon. Select white from the color menu.
    Image Properties Mask Color
    Mask can also be accessed via the Properties toolbar next to the Crop icon when an image is selected.
  7. Increase the ± tolerance next to Mask Color, so colors close to white will also become transparent. Increase the tolerance until the whole background is transparent.

Next, add your signature to the Tool Chest, so you can use it again:

  • Right-click on the image and select Add to Tool Chest > My Tools.

Before you send your PDF, don’t forget to flatten the image markup:

  • Right-click on the image and select Flatten.

Use the Pen tool

Another way to create an electronic signature is by using the Pen tool. Since it’s difficult to write legibly with a mouse, having access to a tablet PC or a pen input device will make creating your signature simpler. Once you’ve completed your signature, save it to the Tool Chest using the steps above, and you can access it for later use.

More Information

If you have a tablet PC, creating a digital signature is even easier with a stylus. Here are a couple resources to get started:

Customizing Tablet Preferences – How to adjust Revu’s functionality in Tablet Mode.

Tablet PC Features – Everything you can do in Revu with a tablet PC.

Other versions of this article

Revu 2017 and older

There are times when you may need to add your signature to a PDF file. Instead of printing the PDF, signing it by hand, and then scanning the page back to PDF, you can add an electronic signature straight from Revu. There are two ways to add your signature to a document: by importing an image of your signature or by using the Pen tool.

Using an image of your signature

To add a signature to your PDF:

  1. Scan an image or take a picture of your signature against a white background and then import it to your computer.
  2. In Revu, open a PDF that you would like to add your signature to.
  3. Click the Markup > Image image button, select the image, and add it to the PDF.
  4. In the Properties tab, use the Crop feature to remove the unwanted parts of the image. Draw a rectangle around the part of the image that you want to keep.
  5. Now resize the image and move it to where you want it.
  6. The background is still solid, which means the image will block everything behind it. To make the background transparent, select the image, click the Mask Color box in the Properties tab, and then select the color closest to your background. You can also use the eyedropper tool and click the background color of your image.
  7. Increase the ± tolerance next to Mask Color until the background is transparent.

Save for future use

Now you can add your signature to the Tool Chest tool-chest . Once your signature is in the Tool Chest, you can add it to any documents that need your signature. To add it to your Tool Chest, right-click on the image and click Add to Tool Chest > My Tools.

Flatten the document

Before you send your PDF, you can Flatten the image. Flattening the image binds the signature you made to the document, making it more difficult to move or delete. To flatten, right-click on the image and then click Flatten.

Using the Pen tool

Another way to create an electronic signature is to use the Pen pen tool. Since it’s difficult to write legibly with a mouse, if you have access to a tablet PC or a pen input device, like a Wacom tablet, you can use the Pen tool to sign directly onto your PDF. Once you’ve completed your signature, you can save it to the Tool Chest tool-chest for future use by following the steps above.

How-To

Revu 20

Revu 2019

Revu 2018

Revu 2017 & Below

Markup

Revu makes it easy for you to add a signature to your PDF, instead of printing, signing, and scanning it back in. Click to learn how.

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