Signature Maker

The Complete Guide to Electronic Signatures

The transition from wet-ink signatures to digital approvals has accelerated rapidly over the last decade. Whether you are signing a lease agreement, approving a corporate contract, or acknowledging an invoice, an electronic signature (e-signature) is now the global standard.

The Legality of E-Signatures

A common misconception is that a digital signature is less "official" than a physical one. In reality, thanks to legislation like the ESIGN Act (2000) in the United States and the eIDAS Regulation (2014) in the European Union, electronic signatures are legally binding for nearly all business transactions.

To be legally valid, an electronic signature generally needs to demonstrate:

• Intent to sign: The user must clearly intend to apply their signature to the document.
• Consent to do business electronically: Most modern document platforms have this baked into their terms of service.
• Association of signature with the record: The signature must be logically tied to the document being signed.

Drawn vs. Typed Signatures

Our Signature Maker offers two modes: Drawing and Typing. Which one should you use?

Drawn Signatures provide the highest level of personalization. If you are using a tablet with a stylus (like an iPad and Apple Pencil), this will look nearly identical to your real-life wet-ink signature. However, drawing with a mouse can feel clumsy and look unprofessional.

Typed Signatures are a fantastic, legally-acceptable alternative. When you type your name, the tool renders it in a beautiful, standardized cursive font. This guarantees a clean, highly professional look every time. Under the ESIGN act, a typed name in a cursive font carries the exact same legal weight as a freehand drawing.