Using Adobe Fill & Sign to Complete Forms

This article was created, in part, using an excerpt from community.adobe.com.

Overview and Purpose

Adobe Fill & Sign is a handy way to complete, sign, initial or mark up forms and digital documents. It saves time, money and paper. 

Environment

These instructions work for Adobe Fill Sign desktop or mobile. 

Important Notes:

  • Instructions for computers do not require you to sign in to Adobe. However, if you do, you have access to additional features and a history of completed forms.
  • Do not use Adobe Fill & Sign for documents that contain confidential information like credit card or Social Security numbers.
  • If you complete a form that has sensitive information, be sure to return it to the sender using Outlook email encryption or MSU File Depot Internal.
  • Forms without sensitive or confidential information can be sent via regular email.

Quick Links for this article:

#Filling and signing from a computer

#Filling and signing from a mobile device

Filling and Signing forms from a Browser

Obtain and Open the Digital Form

  • If the form is not a PDF, (Portable Document Format), most programs, including Outlook and other Microsoft Office apps, will let you print to or create as a PDF by selecting that print option (instead of designating a printer).
  • You can also take a picture of a form, send it to yourself and print it to PDF.
  • Save the PDF somewhere on your computer, laptop or device. Remain mindful of the file's contents as you copy or move it. 
  • Open the PDF in the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Adobe Acrobat Pro instructions may vary slightly). 

 

Sign and Initial forms:

If needed, click the Fill & Sign tool from the right pane of Acrobat.

Screen shot of selecting Fill & Sign from right panel menu

 

Click the "Sign" button, in the toolbar at the top of the page, to add your signature or initials to a form:

Sign icon of pen tip

The Signature panel starts off in "Type" mode, where you can use your keyboard to sign using custom signature fonts.  You can also use your mouse, touch pad, or touch screen to sign in "Draw" mode.  If you have an existing image of your Signature you can Import the image using "Image".  You can take pictures of your signature (and initials) with a mobile device and send them to yourself via email so you can save and use the image file. Clicking the icons at the top toggle between Type, Draw and Image:

Icons for type, draw and image

In "Type" mode simply use your keyboard to initial or sign and choose your preferred font from the "Change Style" menu:

Typed signature for Julio Spartan

In Draw mode, using your mouse or a good touch device, you can sign with, or create, your own digital signature. Note there is a Clear button in case you need a few attempts:

Drawn signature for Julio Spartan

Once satisfied with your signature, click the "Apply" button.

Now click on the page where you want to place it.

Drawn signature placed on form


In Image mode you can upload a supported image (or PDF) of your signature.


Screen shot of uploading an image of signature

 

Repeat these steps, as needed, to create and place initials.

Moving and re-sizing fields:

There is auto-placement logic for the field placement (up/down) and for the size, it should locate the closest field in the form and place the text just above the baseline as shown above.

If the field was not placed where you want the text, you can move the field:

  • Use the keyboard arrow keys to "nudge" the fields to change the placement in relation to the baseline /field. 
  • Or click and drag to move or resize using the image handles on the left edge of the field.

Page Navigation and Zoom controls:

Along the bottom of the form is a panel that includes page and zoom controls, use these controls to zoom the page in or out so you can read it more easily, and to navigate through the pages or go directly to a page:

Screen shot of navigation and zoom controls

 

Saving and Sending your Forms:

  • After placing any text, signature or initials as desired, select File > Save As.
  • Give your completed form a name and save it to your device, the share drive or to your Microsoft OneDrive in the cloud.
  • Send the form as an attachment via email to the intended recipient.
     

Filling and Signing from a Mobile Device

Note: These instructions were created using the app for iPhone and may vary slightly for the Droid app.

Fill and Sign icon

Download and install the Adobe Fill & Sign app from your device's application store.

Launch the application.

Sign in with an Adobe ID or use your Apple, Facebook or Google account. If you don't have an Adobe ID, you can create one after clicking the Sign in or sign up link at the bottom of the page.

Screen shot of signing in to Adobe Fill & Sign

 

Tap continue, if prompted.

Tap Select a form to fill out.

Screen shot of select a form icon

Choose from one of the many options you can use to find and select the form.
Options include: Browser, Web URL, Web Search, Camera Roll, Take a Picture or Email Attachment.

Screen shot of selecting a file

 

Follow the prompts to select and open the form.

If prompted and applicable, use the tools provided to rotate, crop, enhance or delete the form image, then select Done.

Your form opens, and the Fill & Sign Tools appear along the bottom of the screen.

Screen shot of open form with Fill & Sign tool buttons

Select a tool button as needed:

  • Use the Help icon (question mark) to get helpful tips for completing the form.
  • Optional - Use the Profile (person) icon to enter information about yourself that you can easily insert anytime you fill out a document.

Use your fingers on the touch screen to Zoom in on your form as needed.

Tap on the screen anywhere to add a text field. Select a font type or delete your field. You can type from your device or tap the Profile icon to select and insert information you already entered.

Screen shot of placing a text field containing typed name.

To add annotations like check marks, X's, filled-in circles or other circles, use a long tap and hold.

To sign the form, tap the Signature icon (pen tip).

Select from Create Signature, Create Initials or use the most recent signature (if you have used the app previously).

Screen shot of create signature or intials options

Use the Draw, Image or Camera method to create your signature or initials. (This was described in more detail earlier in this article.)

Screen shot of drawn signature "Kwan Spartan"

Drag and drop the signature into place on the form.

Screen shot of drawn signature placed on form

After completing the form, tap the Share icon (paper with upward arrow)

Screen shot of share icon

Select from the many ways your device lets you send or share documents (e.g., text, email, etc.)