Guide · Updated September 2026
How to Create an Electronic Signature
An electronic signature can be as simple as a drawn or typed name. The goal is a clean, reusable signature you can add to PDFs and other documents.
Step by step
- Choose a method. Draw it with a mouse, trackpad or finger, type your name in a script font, or scan a signature written on paper.
- Use a signature generator. Open eSignSimple's free signature generator (/tools/signature-generator), then draw or type your signature.
- Adjust the style. Try a few versions until it looks natural at the size it will appear on a document.
- Save it. Download the signature as an image so you can insert it into documents, or save it in the app you sign with.
- Apply it to a document. Add it to a PDF with Preview, Acrobat Reader or eSignSimple's Sign PDF tool.
Scanning a handwritten signature
Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen, photograph it in good light, and crop tightly. Many phone camera apps and scanner apps can clean up the background.
Preview on Mac can also capture a signature through your camera, and the Files app on iPhone lets you draw one directly.
Keep your signature image safe
A signature image can be copied, so avoid posting it publicly. For agreements with other people, an e-signature service that records who signed and when adds evidence beyond the image itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is a typed signature valid?
In many jurisdictions, yes. Electronic signature laws such as the US ESIGN Act generally focus on intent to sign rather than how the signature looks.
What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?
A digital signature is a specific type of electronic signature that uses a certificate and cryptography. See our guide on digital vs. electronic signatures.
Is the signature generator free?
Yes, eSignSimple's signature generator is free to use.
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