This guide will take you each step of the way through adding a signature to a PDF file (without having to print and/or scan anything) using software you already have on your Mac.
- Start out by opening up the PDF in Preview, which is the default PDF viewer for macOS. If the PDF doesn’t open in Preview when you double-click it, launch Preview from your Applications folder and then select File -> Open…
- Click the Show Markup Toolbar button (see screenshot below) to bring up the Markup Toolbar
- From within the Markup Toolbar, click the Sign button (see screenshot below)
- Make sure that the Trackpad tab is selected and then click the Click Here to Begin button
- You may need to try this next party a couple of times to get the hang of it – use your Trackpad to ‘draw’ your signature. When you’re done, tap any key on your keyboard and the trackpad will return to ‘normal’. Use the Clear button to try again if you’re not happy with your first attempt.
- When you are happy with the result, click the Done button.
- Click the Sign button in the Markup Toolbar again. This time your newly created signature will be there – click it.
- Your signature will be placed into the PDF. Click-and-drag the signature itself to the location you want it to appear in the PDF, and use the corners of the box to shrink or enlarge the actual signature.
- Ta-da! Just remember to save the PDF file and you’re all done.