Signature types

Propper Sign offers three ways for signers to create and apply their electronic signature. Each method produces a legally binding signature that meets eIDAS, ESIGN Act, and UETA compliance standards.

Comparison

Method	How it works	Best for
Type	Select from fonts (Dancing Script, Great Vibes, Allura, Sacramento)	Quick, everyday signing
Draw	Freehand on screen or touchpad	Personal touch, touch devices
Upload	Upload a signature image (PNG, JPG)	Pre-existing or scanned signatures

Signature adoption

The first time a recipient reaches a signature tag in an agreement, they are prompted to "adopt" a signature. Once adopted, that signature is automatically applied to all remaining signature tags in the agreement.

Coming Soon

Screenshot: signature-adoption-dialog — the signature adoption modal

How adoption works

1. The recipient clicks a signature tag — the adoption dialog opens.
2. They select a method: Type, Draw, or Upload.
3. They create their signature using that method.
4. Clicking Adopt and Sign saves the signature and applies it to the current tag.
5. All subsequent signature tags in the agreement use the adopted signature automatically.

Changing your signature

Signers can click Change Signature at any time during signing to adopt a different style. The new signature replaces the previous one across all signature tags in the agreement.

Type signature

Generates a signature from typed text using script fonts. Fast and consistent across all documents.

Coming Soon

Screenshot: type-signature-interface — font selection and preview

How it works

1. Enter your name in the text field.
2. Choose from the available signature fonts.
3. Preview the result in real time.
4. Adopt the signature when satisfied.

Available fonts

• Dancing Script — Casual handwritten look
• Great Vibes — Elegant calligraphic style
• Allura — Classic handwritten script (default)
• Sacramento — Modern cursive style

Coming Soon

Screenshot: signature-font-examples — side-by-side preview of all four fonts

Best for

• Quick signing when visual appearance is less critical
• Desktop users who find drawing with a mouse difficult
• Consistent signature style across many documents
• Signers with motor difficulties who find drawing challenging

Draw signature

The most natural method — signers draw their signature using a mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus.

Coming Soon

Screenshot: draw-signature-interface — the drawing canvas

Drawing methods

• Mouse or trackpad — Click and drag to draw on desktop
• Touch — Use a finger to draw on tablets and phones
• Stylus — Draw with a stylus on touch devices for greater precision

Features

• Smooth line rendering with pressure sensitivity where supported
• Clear button to reset and start over
• Real-time preview as you draw
• Automatic scaling to fit the signature tag

Best for

• Personal, authentic-looking signatures
• Touch devices and tablets
• In-person signing scenarios
• When signature appearance closely matches the signer's handwritten style

Drawing quality

For best results, use a stylus on a tablet. Mouse-drawn signatures work but may look less natural. The clear button lets you practice and retry before adopting.

Upload signature

Upload an image of a handwritten signature. Useful when the signer has an existing signature file or prefers their actual handwritten signature.

Coming Soon

Screenshot: upload-signature-interface — the file upload dialog

Supported formats

• PNG (recommended — supports transparent background)
• JPG / JPEG
• GIF
• SVG

Requirements

• Maximum file size: 2 MB
• Recommended minimum dimensions: 400 × 150 pixels
• Best results with a transparent or white background and high contrast between the signature and background

Creating a good signature image

1. Sign your name in black ink on white paper.
2. Photograph or scan the signature at high resolution.
3. Crop tightly around the signature.
4. Optionally use an image editor to remove the background and increase contrast.
5. Save as PNG with a transparent background if possible.

Best for

• Maintaining your actual handwritten signature style
• Professional or legal contexts where your real signature is expected
• When you already have a scanned or photographed signature file
• Consistency with paper-based signatures

Professional appearance

For the cleanest result, use a signature scanned at high resolution rather than a photograph. Many smartphones have document scanning apps that can produce clean PNG images.

Initials

Initials work the same way as signatures — signers draw, type, or upload their initials. Initials and signatures are adopted separately, so signers can use different styles for each.

Coming Soon

Screenshot: initials-example — initials adoption dialog

When initials are used

• Page acknowledgment — Confirming the signer has reviewed each page
• Change confirmation — Initialing amendments or addendums
• Specific clause agreement — Acknowledging particular terms within a document

Signature security

All three signature methods are equally secure and legally binding. For every signature applied, the system records:

• The signature image or data
• Timestamp of application
• IP address of the signer
• Authentication method used (if any)
• Device information
• Full audit trail of the signing session

Signatures are cryptographically bound to the specific document content, the signer's authenticated identity, the signature timestamp, and the signing session details. This prevents signatures from being transferred to a different document or altered after signing.

Legal validity

All signature types meet legal requirements under the ESIGN Act (US), UETA (US), and eIDAS (EU). The legal validity of a signature depends on the intent to sign and the integrity of the signing process — not the visual appearance of the signature. All methods produce legally equivalent signatures when combined with proper authentication and audit trails.

For compliance details, see the audit trail documentation.

Changing signatures

During signing

Signers can change their adopted signature at any time before completing the agreement:

1. Click the Change Signature button.
2. Choose a different method (Type, Draw, or Upload).
3. Create the new signature.
4. The new signature replaces the previous one in all signature tags.

After signing

Once signing is complete, signatures cannot be changed — this maintains document integrity. If changes are required, the sender must void the agreement and send a corrected version.

Accessibility

Signature creation is designed to be accessible:

• Full keyboard navigation for all signature methods
• Screen reader support with ARIA labels and descriptions
• Works with system high contrast settings
• Large touch targets on mobile

For signers with disabilities:

• Type signature works well for those unable to use a mouse or touch input
• Upload signature is an option for those who can sign on paper but not digitally
• Assisted signing using in-person signing with a host

Related topics

• Authentication — Verify signer identity before signing
• In-person signing — Facilitated signing on a shared device
• Tag types — Other types of tags beyond signatures
• Audit trail — The record captured during each signing session