Digital Signatures

Owned by Cory Hearnsberger (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Sept 30, 2022 by vmireles
4 min read

Adobe Acrobat can facilitate the creation and application of e-signatures, including digital signatures, on important documents. Digital signatures utilize a digital certificate to verify the identify of the signer, providing the most security for document authenticity and integrity.

 

Creating a digital signature

On Windows

  1. Launch Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader and open the applicable PDF file

  2. Click on the Unsigned signature field box where your signature is required

    Unsigned signature field (Click to sign)

  3. In the following Sign with a Digital ID pop up window, click on Configure New Digital ID

  4. Select Create a new Digital ID and then click Continue

    Configure a new Digital ID for signing window

  5. Select Save to Windows Certificate Store and then click Continue

  6. Fill out the following fields under Create a self-signed Digital ID with your information:

    1. Name First Last

    2. Organizational Unit e.g. Technology Services - Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, etc.

    3. Organization Name Texas A&M Engineering

    4. Email Address NetID@tamu.edu

  7. Leave the default options for:

    1. Country/Region US - UNITED STATES

    2. Key Algorithm 2048-bit RSA

    3. Use Digital ID for Digital Signatures

  8. Click Save

  9. In the following Sign with a Digital ID window, select the corresponding Digital ID and click Continue

  10. Click Sign and save the document to the desired file location

On Mac

  1. Launch Adobe Acrobat through Applications or Launchpad

  2. Click on the Acrobat tab in the top menu bar

    1. Select Preferences…

  3. Select Signatures and then click on the More… icon under Identities & Trusted Certificates

  4. Click on the Add Digital ID icon located at the top of the Digital ID and Trusted Certificate Settings window

  5. Select A new digital ID I want to create now and then click Next

  6. Fill out the following fields under Add Digital ID with your information:

    1. Name (e.g. John Smith): First Last

    2. Organizational Unit: e.g. Technology Services - Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, etc.

    3. Organization Name: Texas A&M Engineering

    4. Email Address: NetID@tamu.edu

  7. Leave the default options for:

    1. Country/Region: US - UNITED STATES

    2. Key Algorithm: 2048-bit RSA

    3. Use digital ID for: Digital Signatures

  8. Click Next

  9. Enter a file location and password for the Digital ID file and then click Finish

    1. You will need to provide this password every time you use this Digital ID to sign a document

  10. View the new Digital ID in the Digital ID and Trusted Certificate Settings window

Applying a digital signature

  1. Click on the Unsigned signature field box where your signature is required

  2. In the following Sign with a Digital ID window, select the desired Digital ID and click Continue

  3. Review and configure the options for the Sign as ““ window

    1. Leave the default option for Appearance as Standard Text

    2. You may check the Lock document after signing box if you want the document to become read only for all users

    3. Click Sign and save the document to the desired file location

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