E-Signatures
ProPDFSuite lets you sign documents yourself or request signatures from other people. Every signed document includes an audit trail that records who signed, when, and from what IP address.
Self-signing a document
Self-signing means you apply your own signature to a document and export it. No other parties are involved.
- 1Open the document in the editor.
- 2Navigate to the page where you want to sign.
- 3Press S or click the Signature tool in the toolbar.
- 4In the modal that opens, draw your signature, type it, or upload an image.
- 5Click Insert. The signature appears on the canvas.
- 6Drag and resize the signature to the correct position.
- 7Click Export in the toolbar. The rendered PDF will include your signature as a permanent element.
Important: The signature is placed as an overlay on the PDF. It is embedded permanently when you export. Before exporting, you can reposition or delete the signature object using the Select tool.
Creating your signature
The signature modal offers three ways to create a signature:
Draw your signature by clicking and dragging with your mouse or stylus. A blank canvas is provided. Click Clear to start over. For the best result, use a graphics tablet or touchscreen device.
- Use slow, deliberate strokes for a clean result.
- Increase the stroke width in the modal settings for thicker lines.
- Click Clear and try again if you are not satisfied.
Type your name and ProPDFSuite renders it in a cursive signature-style font. Choose from several font options to match your preferred style.
- Good for simple, consistent signatures.
- The font cannot be customized beyond the provided options.
Upload a photo or scan of your handwritten signature as a PNG or JPEG file. For the cleanest result, use an image with a white or transparent background.
- PNG with transparent background looks best on colored documents.
- Crop the image close to the signature before uploading.
- Maximum file size: 5 MB.
Audit trail
Every signing event is recorded in an immutable audit log. The audit trail captures:
UTC date and time of the signing event.
The user who performed the action (name and email).
The IP address from which the action was performed.
What happened: document opened, signature placed, export started, export completed.
Which document was involved, including its version at the time of signing.
Audit logs are available in Dashboard → Settings → Audit Log (Pro and Enterprise plans only).
Legal validity
Electronic signatures created in ProPDFSuite are considered valid electronic signatures under:
- ESIGN Act (United States)
- eIDAS Regulation (European Union) — as a Simple Electronic Signature
- Electronic Transactions Act (Australia)
- Electronic Commerce Act (Canada)
Not legal advice: The legal validity of an electronic signature depends on the jurisdiction and the specific use case. For legally critical documents (contracts, wills, property deeds), consult a qualified legal professional.
Coming soon: Signature requests
Multi-party signature requests — where you prepare a document and send it to one or more people to sign — are on the product roadmap. This feature will include:
- Place signature fields on the document for each signer
- Define signing order (sequential or parallel)
- Automatic email reminders to pending signers
- Real-time status tracking (pending, signed, declined)
- Full audit trail for each signing event
- Final signed document automatically delivered to all parties
See the roadmap for timeline details.