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USING ACROBAT 9 PRO
Digital signatures
Note: Some situations require using particular digital IDs for signing. For example, a corporation or government agency
can require individuals to use only digital IDs issued by that agency to sign official documents. Find out about the digital
signature policies of your organization to determine the proper source of your digital ID.
• Obtain a digital ID, or create a self-signed digital ID in Acrobat.
Note: You cannot create self-signed digital IDs from within FIPS mode.
• Set the default signing method.
• Create an appearance for your digital signature. For information about creating an appearance, see
signature
appearance" on page 258.
• Use Preview Document mode to suppress any dynamic content that can alter the appearance of the document and
mislead you into signing an unsuitable document. For information about using the Preview Document mode, see
"Sign in Preview Document
• Review all the pages in a document before you sign. Documents can contain signature fields on multiple pages.
For a quick look at how to create a digital signature, see "Creating a Digital ID Profile in Acrobat 9" at
www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1272552.
More Help topics
"About digital
IDs" on page 247
Sign a PDF
You can sign a PDF to indicate your approval using either a digital signature or ink signature. Digital signatures can
be used to sign a PDF more than once and by more than one person. When you sign a document, your digital signature
appears in the signature field. The appearance of the signature depends on options you choose. The actual information
for your digital signature is embedded in the PDF.
In Acrobat, the first person to sign a document (typically the document author) can add a certifying signature to
restrict changes to the document.
An ink signature is a handwritten mark on the page, similar to a free-form drawing you make with the Pencil tool in
the Comment & Markup Toolbar. Ink signatures do not provide the advanced functionality available with digital
signatures. Unlike a digital signature, an ink signature does not use a digital ID; therefore, it is impossible to verify the
identity of the signer. A digital signature can be verified as valid and can become invalid in response to document
changes. But an ink signature carries no validity state and does not warn of document changes. Ink signatures do not
appear in the Signatures pane of the document.
Note: To allow Reader users to sign documents using either type of signature, choose Advanced > Extend Features in
Adobe Reader.
Sign a PDF with a digital signature
For best results, use Preview Document mode to add your signature. See
1
Click the signature field, or do one of the following:
• In Acrobat, choose Advanced > Sign & Certify > Sign Document.
• In Reader, choose Document > Sign > Sign Document.
• Click the Sign button
mode" on page 263.
in the Tasks toolbar and choose Sign Document.
Last updated 9/30/2011
"Sign in Preview Document
mode" on page 263.
261
"Create the
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