Among the plenty of PDF tools available, Adobe has consistently stood out as the most notorious among all. However, its brilliance comes with a caveat—it has a multitude of features, which, while impressive, can also be overwhelming. Not to mention its extensive capabilities come at a cost, limiting access to those willing and able to pay for its premium services. One of its major features is the Fill and Sign feature, albeit somewhat buried within the interface. In this article, we aim to guide you through the process of using Adobe fill and sign feature, enabling you to create secure and professional documents with ease.
Steps to Fill and Sign PDF Forms in Adobe Acrobat
Adobe is widely regarded as a top PDF solution due to its extensive features. Among them, the Fill and Sign feature empowers users to seamlessly add personalized signatures to PDFs. Let's explore how to use Adobe Fill and Sign with PDF documents:
Step 1: Open a PDF document in Adobe Reader. If not installed, visit the official website to download.
Step 2: Once the PDF document is open, on the left, find a panel listing features. Click on "Fill & Sign" to edit your PDF.
Step 3: If you haven't created a signature, on the left, click the "+" button under "Add signature" to create a personal signature.
Step 4: Users can create a new signature using the keyboard, drawing, or adding an image. Click "Apply" to finalize the signature.
Step 5: Simply click the newly created signature and place it on your document using your mouse.
Step 6: To adjust the size, click the "A" icon in the hover menu. To delete the signature, click the "Bin" icon.
Step 7: To fill the document, go to the hover menu next to the left panel, and click on the "A" icon in a square. This provides various options; select "Type Text".
Step 8: Wherever you need to add text, place your text box and start typing to fill your PDF.
This easy solution offers various options. The ability to add a custom signature multiple times allows users to create a new signature if the current one is unsatisfactory. A drawback is the cost associated with their services and the limited features.
How to Fill and Sign PDF Forms Online in Adobe?
Adobe offers an online solution for filling and signing PDF files. In this section, we will explore Adobe Fill and Sign Online and learn how to edit PDF forms:
Step 1: Open your browser and visit the official Adobe website to access their online PDF tools.
Step 2: If you haven't registered with Adobe, complete the registration to access their online PDF tools.
Step 3: After registration, you will be redirected to your Adobe homepage. In the menu bar, hover over the "E-Sign" option and select "Fill & Sign".
Step 4: In the Fill & Sign tool page, users need to upload their PDF. Click on the "Select a file" button or drag and drop your PDF.
Step 5: If you want to fill the PDF form using Adobe Fill and Sign Online, click on the "A" icon in the hover menu on the left and choose from various options.
Step 6: For adding text, click on "Type Text" and place the text box anywhere in your document.
Step 7: To sign, users can click on the “E-Sign” option in the menu bar or click on the "Ink" icon in the hover menu to access e-signing features.
Step 8: To sign your PDF, click on "Add a signature". If you have a previously created signature, your cursor will automatically change to your signature, which can then be placed in the PDF form.
Step 9: If you haven't created a signature, a new pop-up will open. Users can create a new signature by typing, drawing, or uploading an image. Click on "Save" to save a signature.
Step 10: Once editing is complete, click the Download button to download a copy of the edited PDF form.
The online tool is free and convenient, with all features being easy to use. Personally, I didn't face much difficulty in browsing and finding the tool. The signing process was self-revealing. The only concern is uploading personal PDFs online, which can be a bit concerning.
How to Share Documents for E-Signatures in Adobe Acrobat?
If you want your peers to sign PDFs, Adobe provides the "Request e-signatures" feature, allowing users to share their PDFs and get them signed. Let's have a look at how we can make use of this feature:
Step 1: Open the PDF you want to sign on Adobe, and find the "Request e-signatures" listed in the Left panel where all Adobe tools are listed.
Step 2: After clicking on "Request e-signatures", a pop-up will appear. It acts as an email host, where you can enter the email IDs of your peers and request them to sign the PDF.
Step 3: To direct the email to your peers, in the "Add recipients to e-sign this document" field, type the email and press enter.
Step 4: The second textbox is the subject field, automatically populated with the PDF name. Users can edit the subject line if they wish.
Step 5: The last textbox will have the body of the email; enter the instructions if you like and then click on the "Specify where to sign" button.
Step 6: The PDF file will then be uploaded to the cloud; this might take a few moments.
Step 7: Once the file has been uploaded, users will now have to specify where to place the sign. This can be done by clicking the document where you want the signatures, and an orange textbox will be added.
Note: Users often question if the orange text box will remain; it's just for highlighting. Once the sign is added, it won't appear in the printed version or when viewing the PDF normally.
Step 8: If you want advanced setup, use the toggle in the side panel on the left to enable "Advanced Editing" features.
Step 9: Advanced editing tools allow users to add specified text boxes, such as Name, company fields. These fields need to be dragged and dropped into the PDF file to be added.
Step 10: After specifying the position, click on the "Send" option; this will send an email to the peer.
Step 11: The document will then be prepared; your document will be emailed, and you will receive a notification on the screen. Users will also receive an email notification from Adobe.
Note: The ID used to send an email will be the one registered on Adobe.
This Adobe feature is very useful, especially for specified roles. However, the loading times to switch from advanced editing to basic editing can be time-consuming. Nonetheless, the process is simplified and easy to use.
Best Free Alternatives to Adobe - WPS PDF Tools
WPS Office stands as a software providing services akin to Adobe, providing users with dedicated applications for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and a suite of PDF tools. In comparing the PDF functionalities between WPS Office and Adobe, distinctions emerge in their offerings. While both encompass advanced tools, WPS Office stands out as a more budget-friendly option.
Beyond cost considerations, WPS Office offers a comprehensive subscription, integrating an office suite with AI capabilities alongside its PDF tools. This unique combination presents significant value, a rare feature among software packages at this price point.
In addition to its impressive features, WPS Office has exceptional compatibility across various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. This ensures that users can access their files and work seamlessly across different platforms, enhancing productivity and collaboration.
How to Add Signatures in WPS PDF?
Similar to Adobe, WPS Office also offers the Fill & Sign tool in both its office applications and through online PDF tools. Let's explore how both can be utilized to fill and sign PDFs effectively and efficiently:
Steps to add signatures in WPS PDF:
To access the Fill and Sign tools in the WPS Office application, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the PDF using the WPS Office application on your system. If you haven't downloaded it yet, navigate to the WPS Office official website in your browser and download it for free.
Step 2: In the menu bar, click on the "Fill & Sign" tab. Here, you will find various tools available in the ribbon.
Step 3: To add a comment, check or cross a checkbox in the document, simply click on the corresponding option in the ribbon and proceed with the editing.
Step 4: If you need to add a signature, click on the "Add Signature" option.
Step 5: Users will be prompted to create a new signature. Similar to Adobe, users can type, draw, or upload an image as a signature.
Step 6: What sets WPS Office apart from other PDF software is the ability to change the font and font color of the signature. After creating the signature, click on "OK".
Step 7: Now, simply place the signature anywhere in the document. To resize, users can drag the borders of the signature.
WPS Office's tools don't differ significantly from what Adobe offers, but one small feature – the ability to change the font of the signature – allowed me to customize my signature further. Since I was working on a PC, freehand drawing signatures is not always ideal, and this small feature helped me make subtle adjustments to my signature. These nuanced features make a significant difference, and WPS Office's focus on such details helps it stand out from basic PDF tools.
How to add signatures online in WPS PDF Tools?
WPS PDF Tools, an online resource provided by WPS Office for users who wish to fill, sign, convert, merge, or edit their PDFs, can be accessed directly through their browsers. To fill and sign your PDF using the WPS PDF online tool, follow the steps below:
Step 1: First, visit the WPS PDF Tools website in your browser.
Step 2: You will see a list of available tools along with their descriptions. Click on "Signing PDF".
Step 3: Next, upload the PDF file you wish to sign on the WPS PDF sign tool by clicking the "Select PDF File" button, or drag and drop your PDF file to upload.
Step 4: The PDF document will open up in WPS PDF's built-in PDF signer. Here you will find the option "New Signature" at the top left of the screen. Click on it to create and add a signature.
Step 5: Create a new signature in the new pop-up window. Users can draw, add text, or upload an image of the signature.
Note: In WPS PDF tools, users can choose the font style and font color of their signature.
Step 6: Click on “Save” to finish creating a new signature on WPS PDF online tools.
Step 7: The signature will automatically be placed on the document. Grab the signature with your mouse and drag it to place it where you want in the document.
Step 8: If you want to change the size of the signature, drag the border to resize it.
Note: Users can create more than one signature in the WPS PDF online signer tool for a single PDF file.
Step 9: Once the signature is placed, click on “Finish”. WPS PDF signer will finalize the changes made and process the PDF document.
Step 10: After processing, the PDF document will be available for download. Simply click on the "Download" button, and the document will be saved on your PC.
The standout quality of WPS PDF's online signer lies in its simplicity. Upon opening a PDF, a single, focused feature greets me, eliminating the clutter of irrelevant tools found in many other PDF applications. This simplicity, combined with its user-friendly interface and top-notch security, sets WPS PDF Tools apart.
FAQS
1. What are the types of PDF forms?
PDF forms come in two primary types:
Interactive Forms: These include fields that are selectable for user input and completion.
Flat Forms: These documents don't have interactive sections and might look like old-school paper forms or PDFs not set up for easy completion. The Fill & Sign tool spots form elements such as text boxes, checkboxes, and radio buttons. Users can type in information manually, and the tool makes it easy to add text and symbols when necessary.
2. Is there an online version of Adobe Fill and Sign available?
Yes, you can use Adobe Fill and Sign online, which means you can fill in PDF forms directly on the web without having to download or install any additional software.
3. Is Adobe Fill & Sign a free service?
Yes, Adobe Fill & Sign is a free service that provides essential tools for electronically filing out and signing PDF forms. This convenient tool offers features that enable users to handle paperwork digitally, providing a user-friendly solution for managing documents without additional charges.
WPS PDF vs. Adobe: Making the Choice
Fill and Sign is among the most commonly used features in PDF tools, making contract signing and document processing remarkably convenient. However, despite its perception as an advanced feature, the competition is getting tougher. The need for paid access to use Adobe Fill and Sign is now unnecessary. Instead, opt for WPS PDF, which provides comparable ease of use and feature accessibility without any cost. Download WPS PDF now and share documents with security ensured.
