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Forms and signatures

How to fill, visually sign, and flatten a PDF form

Complete and review interactive fields before flattening them. Add a visual signature only when that type of mark is appropriate for the document.

Reviewed by PDFKaka ·

How to fill, visually sign, and flatten a PDF form

Fill compatible form fields

Open PDF Forms and review the detected text, checkbox, choice, and radio fields. A scan without interactive fields must use a different editing workflow.

  1. Choose the form PDF.
  2. Complete every supported field.
  3. Download and review the filled copy.

Add a visible signature when appropriate

Draw, type, upload, or receive a signature image from your phone, then place and resize the visual mark on the required pages.

  1. Open the filled PDF in Sign PDF.
  2. Create and position the signature artwork.
  3. Confirm whether the recipient accepts a visual signature.

Flatten only after reviewing the form

Flatten PDF fixes supported interactive field values into page content. Keep the editable original because the flattened supported fields cannot be changed in the same way afterward.

  1. Review the completed form carefully.
  2. Flatten the supported fields.
  3. Keep both editable and flattened versions when appropriate.

Tools used in this workflow

Frequently asked questions

Can PDF Forms fill a scanned form?

Not unless the PDF contains compatible interactive fields. A scanned page is normally an image.

Is the visual signature cryptographically certified?

No. It is visible signature artwork and does not create a certificate or prove signer identity.