eSign PDF Online — Sign PDFs Without Printing

Why Printing to Sign Is a Problem

The sign-print-scan workflow introduces a chain of quality losses: the PDF is rasterised when printed, then re-rasterised during scanning, and the resulting image PDF is larger, blurrier, and harder to search than the original. When documents pass through email and repeat this cycle several times, text that was once crisp becomes difficult to read.

Electronic signatures solve this completely. The original PDF bytes are preserved, and the signature is embedded as a clean vector-compatible image directly on top of the existing content. The final file is the same quality as the original, and often smaller than a scanned equivalent.

Electronic Signature vs Digital Signature

The terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things:

For the vast majority of everyday documents — employment contracts, rental agreements, service agreements, consent forms — an electronic signature is legally sufficient under laws like the US ESIGN Act and the EU eIDAS Regulation. High-assurance use cases (court filings, deeds, notarised documents) may require a qualified digital signature from a certificate authority.

How to Sign a PDF Online

The eSign PDF tool handles the full workflow in three steps. Everything runs in your browser — the file is never uploaded to a server.

1. Open the PDF. Drag your PDF onto the upload area or click to browse. The document loads locally using PDF.js.
2. Create your signature. Choose one of three methods:
   • Draw — sign with your mouse or touchscreen in the signature canvas.
   • Type — enter your name and select a cursive or serif font style.
   • Image — upload a PNG or JPG of your existing handwritten signature.
3. Place and download. Click "Place Signature on PDF", then click anywhere on any page. Drag to reposition. Use the corner handle to resize. Repeat for multiple pages. Click "Download Signed PDF" when done.

Signature Mode Comparison

Advanced Workflows

Preparing a signature image for repeated use

Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen. Photograph or scan the signature. Open the image in any editor, crop tightly around the signature, and export as PNG with a transparent background if your editor supports it. Save this file somewhere accessible. Each time you need to sign a PDF, use the Image upload mode and select the saved file — you have a consistent signature in seconds.

Signing multiple signature fields

After placing the first signature, click "Place Signature on PDF" again and click a second location. Each placement is independent — you can use the same signature image or create a new one for initials-style fields. All placed signatures are embedded in a single download.

Combining with PDF editing

If the PDF contains form fields that need to be filled in before signing, use the PDF Editor first to fill in text fields, then open the signed copy in the eSign PDF tool to add the signature. Both tools operate entirely in the browser, so you can do the full workflow without leaving the page.

Signing on mobile

The draw canvas supports touch events, so you can sign directly on a smartphone or tablet. Using an Apple Pencil or Android stylus produces results that closely match a physical signature. For smaller screens, the panel collapses above the PDF viewer so you can see the full page when placing.

Common Questions

Is my document kept private?

Yes. The eSign PDF tool runs entirely in your browser using the File API and pdf-lib. No part of your PDF or signature is sent to a server. Once you close the tab, the data is gone. This makes it safe for confidential documents like legal agreements, medical forms, and financial contracts.

Will the signature appear in the right position in every PDF viewer?

Yes. Signatures are embedded using absolute PDF-space coordinates via pdf-lib. The position is stored in PDF points (1/72 inch), which are viewer-independent. The signature will render in the same location whether the recipient opens the file in Adobe Acrobat, Preview, Chrome's built-in viewer, or any other compliant reader.

Can I remove a placed signature before downloading?

Yes. Click a placed signature to select it, then click the red X button that appears in the top-right corner of the overlay. The signature is removed from the placement list and will not appear in the downloaded PDF.

Does this work for password-protected PDFs?

Password-protected PDFs will fail to load if they require a password to open. Use the PDF Unlocker to remove the password first, then sign the unlocked copy.