At The Whole Brain Group, we’re constantly trying to reduce the amount of paper we use, so signing documents has always been a source of irritation for me. When we send contracts out, I have a digital signature I embed in the document, but when I have to sign a document I didn’t produce, the steps are time consuming and paper-wasting:
- Print the signature page
- Sign it
- Scan it
- Email it back
Not overly complicated, but annoying – and I have to be at my desk in the office to complete these steps.
A more elegant solution for signing documents digitally
Luckily, the most recent version of Apple’s Preview program offers an elegant solution: you can use your computer’s built-in camera to “scan” your signature on a blank piece of paper, and then insert it into any PDF file.

Step 8: Save the file and email it!
Since your signature is saved in Preview, the next time you have a document to sign, you only have to follow Steps 6-8!
Armed with only my MacBook, I can now sign documents and keep new business deals moving even when I’m on the road!