How to Photograph Your Signature

A good photo makes a clean transparent PNG. This is the checklist, followed by what to change when the result looks off. Try it in the tool as you go.

Private by design. Your signature is processed on your device and never uploaded.

How to photograph your signature

01
Pick the pen and paper
Use a dark ballpoint or felt-tip and plain white paper with no lines. Black or dark blue works best. Pencil and pale ink are hard to separate from paper.
02
Sign once, large
Sign across most of the page, bigger than you would on a form. A big signature has more pixels on each stroke.
03
Light it evenly
Daylight near a window is ideal. Turn the flash off, and stand so your own shadow and your phone's shadow do not fall on the page.
04
Shoot straight down
Hold the phone parallel to the paper so the signature is not skewed, and fill the frame with the writing.
05
Check it before you use it
Upload it above. If PureSign warns about the photo, retake it. The result on the checkerboard should show clean strokes and no leftover paper.

Problem and fix

Match what you see in the result to the likely cause.

Grey patches in the result

Cause: a shadow or uneven light. Fix: move to a window, or lay the paper flat under a lamp placed above, not beside it.

Strokes look faint or broken

Cause: pale pen or pencil. Fix: re-sign with a darker pen, or use Restore in Refine to paint missing parts back in.

Strokes look hollow

Cause: very thick marker. Fix: use a thinner pen, or turn on Fill thick strokes in Refine.

Edges look jagged

Cause: the signature is small in the frame. Fix: move closer and retake; do not zoom in afterwards.

Photo warning: blurry

Cause: hand shake or focus on the wrong thing. Fix: tap the signature on screen to focus, rest your elbows, and hold still.

Photo warning: too dark or overexposed

Cause: weak light or glare. Fix: add soft light, switch off the flash, and tilt slightly to avoid a reflection.

Scan or photo

A phone's document scanner

Many phones have a scanner in the notes or files app that straightens and brightens the page. Save the scan as an image and upload that.

A flatbed scanner

Gives even light and no shadow. Scan at a moderate resolution and save as PNG or JPG.

Screenshot of an old signature

Works if you crop tightly around the ink. Avoid screenshots of a small thumbnail, which lack detail.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pen for photographing a signature?

A dark ballpoint or felt-tip, black or dark blue. They give strong lines that stand out from the paper.

Should I use the flash?

No. Flash creates glare and hard shadows. Soft daylight is better.

Does the paper have to be white?

Plain, light paper with no print on it is best. Coloured or lined paper makes the ink harder to separate.

What if I have only a poor photo?

Try it anyway. Use the Refine tools to erase leftovers and restore missing strokes. If it stays rough, retaking the photo is quicker.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. It is processed in your browser and is not uploaded. It is only stored if you save the finished signature to your vault.

How to Photograph Your Signature

How to photograph your signature

Pick the pen and paper

Sign once, large

Light it evenly

Shoot straight down

Check it before you use it