In today's digital world, printing a document just to sign it with a pen feels like sending a telegram. Yet millions of people still follow this outdated process every day: print, sign, scan, email. There's a better way — digital signatures.
The Problem with Traditional Signing
Getting a document signed the old-fashioned way is a time-consuming, error-prone process that creates unnecessary friction in business transactions.
Wastes Valuable Time
Print the document, find a pen, sign it, scan it back in, save the file, attach it to an email. What should take seconds takes 10-15 minutes.
Requires Physical Presence
No printer at home? Travelling? Working remotely? Traditional signing assumes you have access to office equipment — and that's often not the case.
Poor Quality Results
Scanned signatures often look fuzzy, pages get skewed, and file sizes balloon. The result looks unprofessional.
Delays Deals
When contracts require multiple signatures, the print-sign-scan cycle multiplies. Deals that could close in hours take days or weeks.
Signing a PDF in Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader (now called Adobe Acrobat Reader) does offer a built-in signature feature. Here's how to use it:
Steps to Sign a PDF in Adobe Reader
- Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Click "Fill & Sign" in the right-hand panel (or go to Tools → Fill & Sign)
- Click "Sign yourself" and then "Add Signature"
- Draw your signature using your mouse or trackpad, type your name, or upload an image
- Click "Apply" and then click where you want to place your signature
- Save the document
The Problem with Adobe Reader Signatures
While Adobe Reader's signature feature is convenient for personal use, it has significant limitations that make it unsuitable for business and legal documents:
No Audit Trail
Adobe Reader doesn't record who signed the document, when they signed it, or from which device. Without this evidence, the signature's authenticity cannot be verified.
Legally Questionable
For a signature to be legally binding, you typically need proof of intent and identity. A simple image pasted onto a PDF provides neither — anyone could have added it.
Easily Forged
There's nothing stopping someone from copying your signature image and pasting it onto other documents. Adobe Reader signatures offer no protection against tampering.
No Identity Verification
Adobe Reader doesn't verify who is actually signing. There's no email confirmation, no authentication — just an image placed on a page.
What Are Digital Signatures?
A digital signature (also called an electronic signature or e-signature) is a way to sign documents electronically without printing them. You can draw your signature with a mouse or finger, type your name, or upload an image of your handwritten signature.
Benefits of Signing PDFs Digitally
Instant Turnaround
Sign documents in seconds, not hours. Recipients can sign from anywhere — their phone, tablet, or computer.
Sign from Anywhere
No printer needed. Sign contracts while travelling, working from home, or even on your morning commute.
More Secure Than Paper
Digital signatures include audit trails showing exactly who signed, when, and from where. Paper signatures can be forged easily.
Environmentally Friendly
No paper, no ink, no postage. Digital signing is the sustainable choice for modern businesses.
Better Organisation
Signed documents are stored digitally, searchable, and never lost. No more filing cabinets full of paper.
Cost Savings
Eliminate printing, postage, and storage costs. Businesses save thousands per year switching to digital signatures.
Common Uses for Digital Signatures
Digital signatures are used across every industry:
- Contracts and Agreements: Employment contracts, NDAs, service agreements, sales contracts
- Property Transactions: Lease agreements, purchase offers, tenancy contracts
- Financial Documents: Loan applications, account openings, insurance policies
- HR Documents: Offer letters, policy acknowledgements, performance reviews
- Healthcare: Consent forms, patient agreements, medical authorisations
- Legal: Affidavits, declarations, witness statements
Sign PDFs with Secure File Exchange
Secure File Exchange makes it easy to get documents signed digitally. Our e-signature feature is powered by DocuSign, the world's leading electronic signature platform, ensuring your signatures are legally binding and secure.
Upload Your PDF
Upload the document you need signed to your secure folder.
Add Signers
Enter the email addresses of people who need to sign.
Place Signature Fields
Drag and drop signature boxes where signatures are needed.
Send for Signature
Signers receive an email and sign with one click.
Why Choose Secure File Exchange for E-Signatures?
- DocuSign Integration: Industry-leading e-signature technology trusted by millions
- Audit Trail: Complete record of who signed, when, and from which IP address
- Secure Storage: Signed documents are encrypted and stored securely
- Reminders: Automatic reminders for signers who haven't completed signing
- Multiple Signers: Route documents to multiple people in sequence or parallel
- Mobile-Friendly: Signers can sign from any device — phone, tablet, or desktop
Start Signing Documents Digitally Today
Stop printing, signing, and scanning. Join thousands of businesses that have modernised their document workflows with digital signatures. Create your Secure File Exchange account and send your first document for signature in minutes.
Legally binding signatures•Powered by DocuSign
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