In this workflow, we’ll cover how to make a reusable signature stamp in iAnnotate (iTunes link) that can be used to sign documents. In an earlier workflow, we covered a similar process in Readdle’s PDF Expert (iTunes link) which uses a dedicated document signing interface to make this annotation. While PDF Expert is great when signing an occasional document, if you need to sign many documents (or otherwise make a repeated custom annotation of any sort), you will want to consider iAnnotate.
iAnnotate is a complicated, powerful app – so lots of steps. Don’t get lost! Here’s how to do it.
1 – In iAnnotate with a PDF file open, make a long press (about half a second) to bring up the contextual annotation menu. Select “Drawing…” and from the submenu, select “Finger.”
First select "drawing" then select "finger."
2 – Using your finger, sign the document. Sign in a comfortable size (we will resize later). If you make a mistake, tap “Undo” and try again. When you are happy with the signature, tap the “X” to close the annotation interface.
Create your signature. Don't worry about size right now.
3 – Tap your newly created signature. It will be enclosed in a box with tome tools at the top. Tap the color bar button to edit the color of the signature, the pen thickness and the opacity.
The edit tools are at the top of the selection box.
Adjust signature color and pen thickness.
4 – When you are happy with the format, tap your signature and you will see the annotation edit tools again. This time tap the stamp tool. You’ll be prompted to name the stamp and save it to your stamp library. Now we can insert the stamp.
Saving the signature to your stamp library.
5 – Tap and hold a PDF in the location you want to sign. Select “Stamp” from the contextual menu and then find your stamp in the stamp library by browsing or searching by name (if you just created it, it will be preselected). Selecting the signature stamp will insert it into the PDF.
Select "stamp" from the contextual menu.
Select from your stamp library.
6 – Not the right size? Tap the signature you just inserted to reveal some edit buttons. The crossed arrows button is the “transform” feature. Selecting it will allow you to edit the size or location of the signature annotation (pinch to resize and drag to move).
Adjust size and placement with arrow handle tool.
You made it! You can see how using iAnnotate for this task makes more sense if inserting a custom stamp is a task you plan to repeat. If so, iAnnotate can make it easier still by dedicating a button on the main interface just for that stamp (we’ll cover that in another workflow.)
Are you using the iPad to sign or custom stamp PDF files? Let us know in the comments.
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