How do I create/use a digital signature?

This article has been written with the steps for Acrobat Reader DC.

Create Digital Signature

Step 1: Open Adobe Acrobat Reader application then select the File Menu, and then Open and browse for your file, alternatively, right click on the PDF file and select Open with and choose Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Note: Double clicking a PDF file can result in it opening in a Browser window instead of the Adobe application, however you cannot digitally sign a document from within a web browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, this must be done in the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC application.

Step 2: Fill in your form by clicking the fields and typing.

Step 3: You can identify a signature field by the little 'red flag' in the upper left, as pictured.

Step 4: When you click into the field you will get the following dialogue box.

      or      

Step 5: Click on the Configure New Digital ID button. It may read as New Digital ID if it is your first one.

Step 6: Select Create a new Digital ID then Continue button

Step 7: Select Save to File then Continue button

Step 8: Enter your details and ensure that key algorithm is set to 2048-bit RSA.

For the majority of people that will only use this for digital signatures for this service, but it is worth pointing out that you also require this signature to encrypt a file (Advanced users only) or do both. To proceed, select the appropriate option in the 'Use Digital ID' for field.

Step 9: Select the location that to save your signature.

If you intend to use this signature on other computers and don't want to create a new one, saving to a USB or portable device will allow you to import the signature (The first step of the creation process has an import option).

Step 10: If you intend to only be signing documents on this computer, the default location is adequate. Set a password for your digital signature and confirm, then Save button.

Step 11: Click on Continue then Sign button, enter your password, then click Sign button. It will also ask you to save the PDF.

Use Digital Signature

If you've already created a Digital Signature from the above steps then next document you can just select and then click the Continue button (this will generally be the option if it's the same computer)

OR

select Use a Digital ID from a file, then click the Continue button

Browse to your saved file (signature, *.pfx) , enter your password, click the Continue button, click the Sign button