Applying a Digital Signature
jPDFEditor supports signing documents with digital signatures. In order to sign documents, you must first have a digital ID.
Note: It's important to understand that a digital signature is not the same as an electronic signature. An electronic signature is a graphical representation of a signature on pen and paper such as an image or drawing. A digital signature (which may also have a graphical representation) contains a unique encrypted ID to verify its authenticity.
Digital Signatures
A Digital Signature is similar to actually signing a physical document in that it identifies the person signing the document. The difference between a digital and hand written signature is that a digital signature contains encrypted information that is unique to the signer so it cannot be forged. The signer’s certificate or issuing third-party Certificate Authority will need to be trusted by the user receiving the PDF in order for the signature to be considered valid. . Once signed, if the document is modified in any way the signature will no longer be considered valid.
How to Apply a Digital Signature
A digital signature can be applied to an existing signature field or a new signature field can be created to apply a signature to a document
Applying Signature to Existing Field
- Click on the signature field
- Select the digital signature ID you wish to use
- Enter the password for the digital ID
- If available, complete any additional digital signature settings that you wish to use
- Once complete click on Sign
- This will then prompt you to select a location on your computer to save the signed document
- Click Save to complete signing and save the document
Applying Signature When No Field Exists
- Click on the Sign Document
button - When the tool is started, the cursor will become a crosshair to mark the location for the new field on the document. Drag a rectangle to create the desired signature field size
- After the field is created, click on the signature field
- This will then prompt you to select a location on your computer to save the signed document
- Click Save to complete signing and save the document