To create a self-signed digital ID:
- In Acrobat, click on the Edit menu and choose Preferences > Signatures.
- Click on More for Identities & Trusted Certificates.
- Select Digital IDs on the left, and then click on the Add ID option
- On Add Digital ID window, select A new digital ID I want to create now and then click on Next
- You will be asked to specify where to store your digital ID. Select the New PKCS#12 digital ID file option and click on Next
- You will be asked to fill out the form below. Type in your information and make sure that the key algorithm is 2048-bit RSA as it is more secure than the other options.
Type in and confirm a password. Be aware that you will be using this password to sign a PDF document.
Note: In case you forget the password, you will need to delete the Digital ID and create a new one as there is no option to reset the password.
To create an appearance for your certificate-based signature:
You may want to include an image of your handwritten signature or a logo when signing a document. To do so:
- In Acrobat, click on the Edit menu and choose Preferences > Signatures.
- Click on More for Creation & Appearance.
- On Appearance section, click on New.
- Select Imported graphic to add your handwritten signature or a logo. After selecting the file, click on OK -> OK -> OK
To Sign a PDF Document:
- In Acrobat, open a PDF document, fill the required fields, and select the signature field
- Select Certificates tool on the Tools tab, then click on Digitally Sign
- You will be prompted to select the digital ID that you want to use for signing. Select the file and click on Continue. From Appearance menu, select the appearance you created, enter the password for the digital ID and then click on Sign. You will be prompted to save the file.
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