signatures

[gcarcamo]

I am learning about signatures and certificates and I am a little lost. Is there a way to make a signature transparent so it does not block, say, the line where the signature would go on. What I am looking for is a way to sign the way people sign in real life, with a signature that looks like your real signature. I have a stamp but that is not transparent either, or makes the line behind faint so that it is obvious that something is over it.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Save your signature as a 32-bit PNG with transparency. Import that as a custom stamp.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

You will need a Pro License for the following but it can be done using only our Viewer:

1) Create a new blank document (File -> New Document -> From Blank Page)
2) Use the Pen tool to draw your signature
3) Flatten your signature (Comments -> Flatten Comments)
4) Save the document and close it
5) In the stamps palette select to create new stamp from PDF
6) Navigate to where you stored the document with the signature and create a stamp out of it.
7) The resulting stamp will be a Vector graphic (scalable) with a transparent background.

Regards,
Stefan

[gcarcamo]

Thanks for your help.
Bhikkhu Pesala:
How do you save signature as a 32-bitpng with transparency with pdf-xchange viewer pro? I can't find the option. Is there another program that I need to use?

Stefan:
I tried your method but I can only manage a crude image of my signature, not something I would use to sign important documents. I found a place online that allows you to upload a picture and convert it to vector graphics but it is not transparent.
Thanks nevertheless.

Are there any other options for me?

I am sorry to be so ignorant and appreciate your help

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hi gcarcamo,

Bhikkhu implied that you will create that signature in other picture editing software as e.g. Photoshop.

As for vectorizing an image, it's good that you have found such a place on the web but then you will need an application allowing you to modify that file (no idea what is the output of that website) and remove the white objects.

If you have an application that allows you to modify vector objects (e.g. Illustrator, CorelDraw) then you could try to sketch your signature there and then fine tune it modifying the vector objects, but in that case you will also need to be able to create either transparent png or PDF from that application to be able to insert your signature as stamp in the Viewer.

Regards,
Stefan

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

This is free and a very powerful Graphics and Image Maipulation Program.. : http://www.gimp.org/ It will allow you to create high quality png images with transparency.

[Chris8]

Gimp is definately the program to use, but it can be a little complicated so here's the easy steps:

1) Download and install Gimp.
2) Open your existing signature image
3) In the Menu click Image -> Mode and check it is RGB (Change it if not)
4) In the Menu click Layer -> Transparency -> Add Alpha Channel (Don't worry if you cant select this, it may already have an alpha channel)
5) In the Menu click Colors -> Color to Alpha then click ok on the dialog shown.
The white background should now be removed, a checked pattern will be shown in the transparent parts of your image.
6) Choose file -> save as. Type a filename ending in .png and it will automatically save a png file.

[gcarcamo]

Gimp is definately the program to use, but it can be a little complicated so here's the easy steps:

1) Download and install Gimp.
2) Open your existing signature image
3) In the Menu click Image -> Mode and check it is RGB (Change it if not)
4) In the Menu click Layer -> Transparency -> Add Alpha Channel (Don't worry if you cant select this, it may already have an alpha channel)
5) In the Menu click Colors -> Color to Alpha then click ok on the dialog shown.
The white background should now be removed, a checked pattern will be shown in the transparent parts of your image.
6) Choose file -> save as. Type a filename ending in .png and it will automatically save a png file.

Thanks Chris8. This worked perfectly!
Thanks to everyone for their help. Much appreciated.

[John - Tracker Supp]

Excellent !

Will be KB'd

Thanks Chris8