There are some tools that can go unnoticed by many users. But when you discover them, you realize how incredibly useful they are. Among many other things, you can sign documents digitally with your Mac.
And is that from the version of macOS Mojave, many of them are available when you use Quick Look to preview a picture or PDF. Just simply press ‘Command + Space’ when you select the file.
These tools offer the possibility of adding notes and simple marks. As well as sandwiches and shapes to any image that you have open in ‘Quick view’ or ‘Preview’. It is also possible to add a digital signature and fix it to any image or PDF document.
The digital signature function is probably the most useful of the functions offered by the Paint program previewer. That is why we wanted to show you a step by step on how to digitize your signature and use it for any document with your Mac. We will also see how to use a similar function with Mac Mail mail.
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How to create a digital signature on a Mac
If you need to sign a PDF you can think that the only way to do it is to print it, sign it with a pen and then scan it again. Alternatively, you could be signing things using an elegant handwriting font.
However, you could save your signature on your Mac and insert it when you need it. We will guide you on how to use the preview to do it. Once you have everything configured, you can insert the ‘Quick View’ signature without even opening the corresponding application.
1.- Open ‘Preview’. Drag a file to the ‘Preview’ icon in the Dock. Alternatively, depending on the type of file, double-click on a PDF file or another image file to open it in the ‘Preview’ mode by default.
2.- Click on the icon in the toolbox and select the pencil located to the left of the search field, to open the editing tools. Provided that the toolbar is not yet open.
3 .- Now you should see the editing toolbar, starting with ‘Text selection’ on the far left and including Sketch, Draw, Shapes and an icon that has the form of handwriting. This is the icon of the ‘Sign’ tool. Click on it.
4.- If you have created several signatures before, they will appear in the list and will be available here. But you can also click on ‘Create signature’ to create a new one and add them to the ones you already have registered.
5.-There are two ways to create a digital signature: Using the trackpad or using ‘Camera’. Writing it on a trackpad is the fastest method (press any key when you’re done). You can use your finger, although as you will have verified, it is more accurate if you use a digital pen.
6.- Many users prefer to write their old-fashioned signature on a white paper and then capture it with the webcam. Try to keep the paper firm and match the writing with the guideline so that the representation is more accurate.
Sign a PDF or other image file
Once you have saved one of the signatures in the preview, it will be very easy to add it to this or any other image file in the future. As we said before, starting with the version of macOS Mojave, you will not even need to open the ‘Preview’ to do it.
1.- Open the image or PDF file in which you want to log in to ‘Preview’ (or start QuickLook by selecting the file and pressing space).
2.- Scroll to the area you need to sign; If there are several pages, it suits you to be positioned right on the correct page before the signature appears.
3.- Open the toolbar and click on the ‘Sign’ tool icon. Then, click once on the signature you wish to use and a slap appears in the center of the image. Drag it to the appropriate location.
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How to erase digital signatures
Maybe we are looking somewhat paranoid, but there are people who share a Mac with others, and may not want to keep digital copies of your signature stored in the preview, so that it can be used by anyone.
If so, click on the signature icon located in the ‘Toolbox’ and move the cursor to the signature you wish to delete. An ‘X’ will appear. Click on the signature to delete it.
Sign documents in the mail
So far, we have seen how it is possible to create digital signatures in ‘Preview’, but there is a similar feature in ‘Mail’. When Mac OS X Yosemite was launched in 2014, Mail gained the ability to sign PDF-like documents.
It works in a similar way to the ‘Preview’. To configure it, click on the ‘Sign’ button on the ‘Brands’ toolbar. Mail will ask you if you want to write your signature by hand, using your mouse or trackpad.
You can also use your Mac’s webcam to take a photo of your digital signature made by hand.
Also Read: How to install Windows on a Mac
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