Signature Types
When a recipient reaches a signature tag in an agreement, they're asked to choose how they want to create their signature. Propper Sign offers three options. Signature and Initial tags are placed on the document by you when preparing the agreement.
| Method | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pick a script font and type your name | Fast, everyday signing; desktop users |
| Draw | Sign freehand using a mouse, finger, or stylus | Touch devices; a more personal look |
| Upload | Upload a PNG or JPG image of your signature | When you have an existing scanned signature |
All three methods are legally valid under the ESIGN Act, UETA, and eIDAS standards. The legal weight of a signature comes from the intent to sign and the audit trail captured during the session, not the visual style. → See Document Validity & Trust for how this holds up if a signature is ever questioned.
How Signature Adoption Works
The first time a recipient clicks a signature tag, an adoption dialog appears. They choose their method, create their signature, and click Adopt and Sign. That signature is then automatically applied to every remaining signature tag in the agreement, so they only go through this once per document.
Screenshot: signature-adoption-dialog, the signature adoption modal showing the three method options
Recipients can click Change Signature at any time before finishing to adopt a different style. The new signature replaces the previous one across all signature tags.
Type
The recipient types their name and selects from a set of script fonts. Quick, consistent, and works well on any device.
Screenshot: type-signature-interface, the font selection panel with a preview of the typed signature
Draw
The recipient draws their signature using a mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus. A Clear button lets them redo it before adopting.
For the cleanest result on a touch device, a stylus works better than a finger. Mouse-drawn signatures work but can look less natural, Type is often a better option in that case.
Screenshot: draw-signature-interface, the drawing canvas with a freehand signature
Upload
The recipient uploads an image file (PNG or JPG, under 200K) of their handwritten signature. PNG with a transparent background gives the cleanest result.
Screenshot: upload-signature-interface, the file upload dialog for a signature image
Initials
Initials follow the same process as signatures, recipients draw, type, or upload them, but they're adopted separately. A recipient can use a typed signature and a drawn initial, for example, or vice versa.
Initials are typically used for page acknowledgments, clause confirmations, or initialing amendments.
Screenshot: initials-adoption-dialog, the initials adoption modal
Related Topics
- Identity Verification: require additional verification before signing
- In-Person Signing: facilitated signing on a shared device
- Audit Trail: the full record of signature events and authentication