Mastering Digital Signatures with Bluebeam Revu
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Understanding Digital Certification and Digital Signatures
2.1 Similarities between Digital Certification and Digital Signatures
2.2 Differences between Digital Certification and Digital Signatures
- How to Add a Digital Signature to a PDF Document using Revu
3.1 Selecting Tools and Sign Document
3.2 Creating a Digital ID
3.3 Adding Signature Appearance and Options
3.4 Signing the Document
- Batch Signing and Sealing Multiple Documents
4.1 Using Batch Sign and Seal in Revu
4.2 Adding Signatures to Multiple Documents
4.3 Additional Options for Date and Seal
4.4 Processing Multiple Files
- Conclusion
Understanding Digital Certification and Digital Signatures
Digital certification and digital signatures play a crucial role in verifying and securing PDF documents. While they may have similarities, they serve different purposes in ensuring document integrity and authenticity. In this article, we will explore the distinctions between digital certification and digital signatures, and how you can utilize Revu to add a digital signature to your PDF documents.
Similarities between Digital Certification and Digital Signatures
Both digital certification and digital signatures are used to ensure the accuracy and integrity of PDF documents. When a document is digitally certified or signed, it becomes tamper-proof, making it difficult for unauthorized modifications to be made without detection.
Differences between Digital Certification and Digital Signatures
Although they share similarities, digital certification and digital signatures have distinct functions:
Digital Certification: A digital certification confirms the accuracy of a document and locks it, preventing any further changes. It provides a level of assurance that the document has not been altered since certification. This is essential for documents that require absolute integrity, such as legal contracts or official reports.
Digital Signature: A digital signature is an independently validated signature that approves the current state of a document. It goes beyond a traditional written signature by providing a unique digital ID that verifies its authenticity. Digital signatures are commonly used in various business transactions, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the signed document.
How to Add a Digital Signature to a PDF Document using Revu
Adding a digital signature to your PDF document using Revu is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to sign your document securely:
Selecting Tools and Sign Document
- Open your PDF document in Revu.
- Click on the "Tools" menu and navigate to "Signature."
- Select "Sign Document" from the dropdown menu.
Creating a Digital ID
- Before you can sign the document, you need to select your digital ID. If you already have one, click on "Browse" to locate it.
- Alternatively, you can create a digital ID using the PKCS #12 format, which is accepted by most security applications and web browsers. You can also create a digital ID in the Windows Certification Store, which is available to Windows applications.
- Regardless of the method chosen, you will need to enter some identifying information and usage parameters.
- If you choose the PKCS #12 option, you will also need to select the save location and create a password to secure it.
- Once the ID is created, click "OK" to proceed.
Adding Signature Appearance and Options
- Your new digital ID will be selected for signing.
- You have the option to add details such as the reason for signing and your location, as well as additional contact information.
- If you want to customize the appearance of your signature, select "New" in the Appearance section.
- The Signature Appearance menu will open, allowing you to add a graphic or a name, and specify text options and placement within the signature.
- Once you have selected the desired options, click "OK" to proceed.
Signing the Document
- With all the necessary options selected, click "OK" to sign the document.
- Revu will prompt you to save the document.
- After saving, the signature will be added to the document.
- It's important to note that any changes made to the document after signing will invalidate the signature.
Batch Signing and Sealing Multiple Documents
If you need to sign multiple documents in one go, Revu offers the Batch Sign and Seal feature. Follow these steps to efficiently process multiple files:
Using Batch Sign and Seal in Revu
- Open Revu and navigate to the "Tools" menu.
- Click on "Batch Sign and Seal" to access the feature.
Adding Signatures to Multiple Documents
- In the Files dialog box, you can add individual files, folders, or Sets, or load previously created batches of documents.
- Click "Next" to proceed.
Additional Options for Date and Seal
- The Batch Sign and Seal dialog box will open, providing options similar to signing an individual document.
- You can also manually place a signature if necessary.
- Additional options for adding dates and seals are available if desired.
- Ensure that you are logged into the digital ID associated with the signature.
- In the Preview pane, you can move and resize the signature as needed, selecting the location for each sheet added to the batch of files.
- Click "OK" to continue.
Processing Multiple Files
- Revu will display a warning about making changes to multiple files.
- Click "OK" to confirm and begin processing the documents.
- You can open the processed files and verify that the signatures have been successfully added.
Conclusion
Digital certification and digital signatures are powerful tools for ensuring document integrity and authenticity. With Revu's intuitive features, adding digital signatures to PDF documents becomes seamless and secure. Whether you need to sign a single document or process multiple files simultaneously, Revu provides a comprehensive solution for digital signatures in PDFs.
FAQ:
Q: What is the difference between digital certification and digital signatures?
A: Digital certification confirms the accuracy of a document and locks it, while a digital signature is an independently validated signature that approves the current state of a document.
Q: Can I customize the appearance of my digital signature in Revu?
A: Yes, Revu allows you to customize the appearance of your digital signature by adding a graphic or a name, selecting text options, and specifying placement within the signature.
Q: Can I batch sign multiple documents in Revu?
A: Yes, Revu offers the Batch Sign and Seal feature, allowing you to efficiently sign multiple documents at once.