3 Ways to Create a Signature for PDF with or Without Adobe

You may desire to create an e-signature to a contract, invoice or agreement in PDF format, since signing a paper document is very time-consuming and laborious, and if there is any mistake, it needs to be printed and signed again. Compared to the traditional one, signing a PDF electronically is widely accepted and more convenient. But if you haven’t had much experience with electronic signatures before, this article will be a boon for you, which will solve all your problems about creating a signature for PDF in one go.

 Cisdem PDFMaster

Create an Electronic/Digital Signature for PDF Without Adobe

• Create an Electronic/Digital Signature for PDF Without Adobe.
• Create an electronic signature for PDF by drawing, typing or uploading an image.
• Create a certificated-based digital signature to PDF.
• Add a signature field for someone else to sign.
• Create a fillable PDF form through adding various form fields.
• Protect PDFs by setting passwords or marking for redaction.
• Provide plenty of tools to deal with PDF files, like edit, comment, convert, compress, etc.

Free Download macOS 11 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
 Earlier than macOS 11, click here

Electronic Signature VS Digital Signature

You’ve certainly heard of electronic signatures and digital signatures, and even equated them with the same thing, but actually, there are differences between these two terms.

An electronic signature is meant for providing a secure and accurate identification method for the signatory during a transaction. This type of signature has the same legal standing as a handwritten signature, as long as it conforms to the regulations of the country where it was created. It is usually represented using a visual mark, but can also be captured through a drawn signature, typed name, or uploaded signature image.

A digital signature is a special type of electronic signatures, used to implement electronic signatures in a cryptographically protected way. It is intended to verify the authenticity of digital documents and prevent them from being forged and tampered during the sending and receiving process.

Essentially, digital signatures are considered more secure than electronic signatures, as they better guarantee the identity of the signer as well as the authenticity and integrity of the signed document.

Create a Signature for PDF Without Adobe: Using Cisdem

A PDF signature can be an electronic signature or a digital signature. It’s a piece of cake to insert an electronic signature to a PDF file, usually a single click away. But creating a digital signature for PDF is a bit more complicated, it is created by software and algorithms, which applies the PKI technology (called Public Key Infrastructure). 

If you are looking for an all-embracing way to create both electronic and digital signatures for PDF in one program, then a powerful signature application is necessary. Cisdem PDFMaster is such a tool that combines the ease of electronic signatures and the security of digital signatures. With its aid, you are able to create new electronic signatures by drawing in the signing area, typing the name or uploading an signature image from your device. Even if you are not the signer, it enables you to add a signature field to PDF for someone else to sign.

In addition, to enhance the security of your PDF documents and reduce the risk of forgery and altering, Cisdem PDFMaster provides a safe way to create a digital signature by importing a digital certificate from a trusted authority or generating the self-signed certificate. When using the digital ID to sign a PDF file, you can even choose to lock the document after signing.

Now, read on to learn the different methods to create a signature for PDF using Cisdem.

Method 1: How to Add a Signature Field to PDF?

1. Free download and install the program of Cisdem PDFMaster.
   Free Download macOS 11 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
    Earlier than macOS 11, click here
2. Upload the PDF file into the program.
3. Head towards the Sign tab > Create Signature Field.
4. Put the signature field in the location where you want to add.
   
5. Click Create Signature Field again to finish the signature creation in the PDF. Now you can send it to the partner for signing.

Method 2: How to Create an Electronic Signature for PDF?

1. Go to Sign > Add Electronic Signature.
2. Click on the signature field, then a panel will appear on the right, choose + New Signature.
3. Then a signature window pops up, here you can create a new signature by the following three ways:
   Keyboard: Type the text in the field. You’re free to choose different font styles and colors.
   Trackpad: Draw your signature using the mouse in the signing area. 
   Image: Drag and drop the image of your signature into the signing area, or choose an image from your device.
4. When you’re done signing, click Save & Apply to add your electronic signature.

Method 3: How to Create a Digital Signature for PDF?

1. Go to the Sign tab and choose Add Digital Signature from the secondary menu.
2. Click on the blank signature field, select Create a New Digital ID in the pop-up.
3. Continue to fill in the sigature information, go with Save.
4. Choose a file location and enter the password for your new digital ID file. And press OK.
5. Tick the boxes next to the options to customize its appearance as you like.
6. Finally, click Next to create a digital signature.

Create a Signature for PDF with Adobe Reader

Some parts of people are interested in Adobe Acrobat and wondering how to create a signature for PDF with it. As one would expect, Adobe offers the option to create an electronic or digital signature to a PDF document relying on your needs. And this capability is available in both Adobe’s free and paid versions. But if you hope to request e-signatures from other recipients, it allows sending up to 2 documents for free every 30 days.

Take a Look at How to Create a Signature for PDF in Adobe Reader

1. Open the PDF you want to sign with Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking File > Open....
2. Select Fill & Sign in the right pane, or click on the sign icon in the toolbar.
3. Click Sign yourself > Add Signature.
4. A pop-up window will open that gives you three options to create a signature -- Type, Draw and Image.
5. Once you’re done, click Apply.  

Create a Signature for PDF Online Free

Apart from offline software, there are also several online free tools available for users to create a signature in a PDF document. Compare with professional signature applications, they tend to be limited in functionality and defective in terms of security. But for persons looking for a simple way to create a signature for PDF documents, they will be sufficient.

Here the online signature creator we would like to share with you is Sejda. It includes fill & sign PDF tool that lets you create a new signature electronically by typing, drawing and uploading an image. And a new feature has been introduced recently where you can directly link for your website to sign your PDF.

Below Shows How to Create a Signature for PDF Online Free

1. Go to Sejda website > choose Fill & sign PDF tool.
2. Upload your desired PDF through Dropbox/Google Drive/One Drive/URL. Drag and drop also works.
3. Expand Sign drop-down menu list and click +New Signature.
4. There are 3 ways to create a signature, choose one as you like. 
5. Once finished, click Save. Scroll the page and click where you want to place it. 
6. Click Apply changes and download the signed PDF on your computer.

Something You Should Be Aware:

• 3 tasks per day and docs up to 50Mb and 200 pages for free.
• It does not guarantee that the signature created by this tool is legally binding.
• It does not support creating a digital signature for PDF.
• It has the potential risk of information leakage.

In Summary

It seems that creating a signature for PDF is not a thing as difficult as you might think. To decide which signature creator is best, you mainly need to consider what level of security you want to achieve when signing a PDF file. If you want the highest level of security and the strongest legal effect, Cisdem PDFMaster will be a top priority, enabling you to sign a PDF electronically and digitally. Besides, it does an excellent job of editing, converting, compressing PDFs and more as well, as its name suggests, making you a PDF master.