Complete Tutorial: How to Extract a Signature From PDF

As someone who works with documents often, I used to struggle with retrieving signatures from different types of files. Each PDF came with its own structure, and I frequently found myself unsure which approach would work without damaging the signature quality. This pushed me to explore tools that could handle all signature formats smoothly and consistently.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact methods I use to extract signatures safely from any document. As a bonus, I’ll also explain how to extract a signature from PDF files using UPDF to simplify the entire process.

Part 1. Where a User May Need to Extract a Signature From a PDF?

Before learning how to extract signature from PDF files, let’s understand the situations where you might need to do it.

1. Verification & Compliance

Legal and regulatory documents often require confirmation of who actually signed them. Compliance teams and legal advisors may request extracted signatures to verify authenticity and compare them against official records. In these situations, extracting a signature helps confirm the identity of the signer during legal reviews.

2. Document Authentication

It is sometimes necessary to confirm that a specific executive, manager, or authorized representative approved a file before processing it. When businesses rely on validated approval chains, extracting a signature makes it easy to double-check that the correct person signed the contract and authorization form.

3. Reuse in Other Documents

There are many cases where a signature needs to be reused on multiple forms, like repetitive agreements and onboarding documents. The signature can be easily pulled out and re-purposed when it is required, instead of asking the signer. This approach streamlines workflows and reduces administrative time.

4. Fraud & Forensic Analysis

In risky sectors, suspected forgery or unauthorized modifications may need to be examined. Analysts and internal security teams often extract signatures to analyze patterns and check anomalies. Signature extraction makes it easier to detect fraudulent activity or confirm genuine authorization.

5. Workflow Automation

In repetitive digital processes, signatures are sometimes extracted for automated verification steps, identity confirmation, or database storage. Companies building digital workflows, API integrations, or automated form-processing tools often require isolated signature images to streamline identification procedures.

6. Archiving & Indexing

For long-term storage, signatures are often separated from the main files to index them more efficiently. Archivists and record-management teams use this method to categorize approvals and ensure future accessibility without opening every PDF manually.

7. Template Creation

When creating contracts and recurring forms, approved signatures can be extracted and applied across templates. This ensures visual uniformity and prevents the risk of mismatched or outdated signatures appearing in official documents.

8. Research & Study

In academic and technical studies, signature patterns and stylistic differences are sometimes analyzed. Students and forensic handwriting experts extract signatures for comparisons, pattern recognition, or qualitative analysis in studies related to identity verification or psychology.

Part 2. Understanding Signatures in PDFs

Once I started learning how to extract a signature from PDF files, I learned different signature types. Understanding these differences helped me determine the best extraction method for each PDF.

Types of Signatures

Let’s explore the different kinds of signatures found in PDFs, including handwritten, digital, and electronic signatures, and how they are used.

Handwritten Signature

A personal mark created with a pen on physical paper, used to authenticate documents and express consent. It is legally recognized in most settings and reflects individual traits like the slant and style of the writer.​

Digital Signature

An encrypted code is attached to electronic documents to verify the signer’s identity using digital certificates. Digital signatures are more secure than basic e-signatures and accepted for regulatory compliance in digital transactions.​

Electronic Signature

An electronic process that indicates acceptance and approval is used to type names and draw a signature on a screen. This type is quick and convenient, often used for contracts or forms online, with varying levels of security depending on the method used.

Challenges in Extracting Signatures

Before learning the extraction methods, it’s important to understand the common challenges faced when handling signatures in PDFs.

1. Preserving high signature quality when cropping or compressing documents for reuse and verification.​
2. Accurately isolating signatures from scanned PDFs or photos with varying resolution, skew, and compression.​
3. Removing noise, stamps, and complex backgrounds without deleting thin or lightly written signature strokes.​
4. Detecting diverse signature styles, sizes, and positions across different document templates and layouts.​

Part 3. How to Extract a Signature from PDF (Handwritten or Image-Based)

After I was unsure how to extract signature from PDF, I found that the process differs for handwritten and image signatures. Fortunately, with the help of UPDF, this task becomes straightforward and easy due to its simple interface. It allows me to select and save signatures without losing quality on a desktop or mobile device.

Unlike other tools, UPDF lets me copy and extract signature layers from PDFs without flattening to preserve the original quality. Handwritten and image signatures can be saved as separate files and reused across multiple documents.

How to Extract a Handwritten Signature with UPDF

Now, we’ll explore how you can extract a handwritten signature using the UPDF Desktop and its Mobile application.

Extracting Handwritten Signature with UPDF Desktop

Follow the steps below to extract a handwritten signature on your desktop device using UPDF:

Step 1. Open Signature File and Copy Handwritten Signature

Once you open the document with a handwritten signature, select the signature and hit the “Copy” icon in the floating pop-up.

Step 2. Paste The Signature in Another PDF

Next, open another PDF and right-click the file to press the “Paste” option to paste the copied signature. You can also press the “Ctrl + V” keys to directly paste the signature via keyboard.

Extracting Handwritten Signature with UPDF Mobile

Adhere to the steps below to learn how to extract a signature from PDF using the UPDF Mobile app:

Step 1. Access Signature PDF and Copy Signature

Once you open a PDF with handwritten signatures, tap on the signature and hit the “Copy” option in the pop-up.

Step 2. Paste Signature into Another PDF

Now, open another PDF file and tap anywhere to view a pop-up menu and use the “Paste” option to paste the signature on the current PDF.

How to Extract an Image-Based Signature with UPDF

Next, in this guide, we’ll learn how you can extract an image-based signature using the UPDF desktop and mobile application. We’ll explore various ways to save, upload, and reuse signature images while preserving their original quality.

Extracting an Image-Based Signature Using UPDF Desktop

Now, on the UPDF Desktop application, let’s explore different ways to extract an image-based signature while keeping its quality intact.

Way 1: Save Selectable Signature

Before extracting, make sure the signature layer is selectable, then follow the steps below on how to extract signature from PDF:

Step 1. Access Edit PDF

After you open the PDF, hit the “Tools” option and press the “Edit” option to access the editing interface. Next, select the image-based signature and hit the “Extract” icon from the floating pop-up.

Step 2. Extract the Image-Based Signature

Now, you’ll see a new pop-up window where you need to choose a desired format under the “Format” option and hit the “Extract” button to extract the signature.

Step 3. Add Signatures to Other PDF

Next, drag and drop the extracted image file into another PDF file.

Way 2: Upload Existing Signature

In case you already have a saved signature, go through the guide below to upload and extract it for reuse:

Step 1. Access Signature Feature

Once you upload the PDF, access the “Comment” tool and hit the “Signature” icon at the top. Next, hit the “Image” tab and press the “Choose File” option to import the image-based signature.

Step 2. Create Image-Based Signatures

Next, hit the “Create” option to create the signature or hit the “Save to Cloud” option to save it to the cloud for future use.

Tip: Create and Save Your Signature

To simplify future work, follow the steps below to create a new signature in UPDF and save it for easy access:

Step 1. Create New Signature

After accessing the Signature feature from the “Tools” option, hit the “Create” option and generate a new signature.

Step 2. Save New Signature to Cloud

Once done, hit the “Save to Cloud” icon to save the signature for future use.

Extracting an Image-Based Signature Using UPDF Mobile

Once you know how to extract a signature from PDF using UPDF desktop, let’s look at the mobile methods.

Save The Image Signature With UPDF Mobile

Follow the steps below to save your image-based signature and make it ready for reuse:

Step 1. Access Edit Tool

Once you open the PDF in UPDF, tap on the “Edit” option to access the editing interface.

Step 2. Extract Image-Based Signature

Next, hit the “Image” option from the bar below and tap on the image-based signature. Next, hit the “Extract” option from the floating pop-up menu to extract the signature as an image or PDF.

Scan The Image Signature With UPDF Mobile

In case the signature is not directly selectable, then use the steps below to scan and extract it:

Step 1. Access Signature Feature and Scan Image

Once you open the PDF, tap on the “Fill & Sign” option and use the “Signature” option to proceed further. Next, tap on the “Scan Document” option to open the camera interface.

Step 2. Scan Save Signature

After the camera is opened, tap on the “Capture” option or “Gallery” option to import the image. Next, use the controls below to further edit the image and hit the “Save” or “Save to Cloud” option after pressing the “Done” button.

Part 4. How to Extract Digital Signatures from PDF

Having discussed signature extraction from PDF, you might be thinking about how to extract digital signature from PDF files. Now, we’ll see how you do this using UPDF desktop and mobile versions.

Extract Digital Signatures from PDF Using UPDF Desktop

Now, follow the steps below to see how you can save digital signatures in image form and place them on other PDFs:

Step 1. Open PDF and Take a Screenshot

Once you open the PDF with digital signatures, take a screenshot of the part where the digital signature is placed. If needed, use an image-editing tool to remove the background of the signature image.

Step 2. Access Edit Tool and Insert Image

Next, hit the “Tools” option and press the “Edit” option to access the editing interface. Next, hit the “Insert & Edit Image” icon to add the digital signatures.

Extra Tip: Create and Save Digital Signatures

Follow the steps below to create a new digital signature in UPDF and keep it ready for future use.

Step 1. Create a Digital Signature Field

First, access the “Forms” tool and hit the “Digital Signatures” icon to access the digital signature interface. Next, click the area you want signatures to create a digital signature field.

Step 2. Generate a Digital ID

Switch to the “Preview” mode and click on the “Digital Signature Field” to view a pop-up window. Next, hit the “Create” option and enter your name to create your digital ID. Your signature will be saved automatically, and whenever you press any signature field, you can use your own digital signature.

Extract Digital Signatures from PDF Using UPDF Mobile

After learning about how to extract a signature from PDF for digital signatures on a desktop, adhere to the steps below to do this on mobile:

Step 1. Open Digital Signature PDF and Take a Screenshot

Once you open a PDF with digital signatures, zoom in on the area of signatures and take a screenshot.

Step 2. Access Edit Tool and Add Image

Next, open another PDF and tap on the “Edit” option. Use the “Add Image” option, import the screenshot, and crop the area of the signature if needed.

Part 5. How to Extract a Signature from a Scanned PDF

Some users encounter scanned PDFs and face difficulty in extracting signatures from them. In this section, we’ll see how you can extract signatures from scanned PDFs. However, the digital signatures in these files are not recommended for this method, as they may lose their original clarity.

Extracting a Signature from a Scanned PDF Using UPDF Desktop

Follow the guide below to learn how to extract signature from scanned PDF files using UPDF Desktop tools:

Step 1. Access OCR Tool

Once you open the scanned PDF, hit the “Tools” option and press the “OCR” tool to perform it.

Step 2. Extract Signature Image

After you perform OCR, open the new PDF and click the “Edit” option. Next, hit the “Insert & Edit Image” icon and press the “Extract Image” option to save the image.

Step 3. Place Signature Image in Another PDF

Next, open another PDF file and drag and drop the extracted image file onto another PDF.

Extracting a Signature from a Scanned PDF Using UPDF Mobile

Having learned how to extract signature from PDF that is scanned on the UPDF desktop, follow the steps below to see how to do this on the mobile app.

Step 1. Perform OCR of Scanned PDF

After opening the scanned PDF, hit the “OCR” option from the bar below and tap on the “Continue” option to perform OCR.

Step 2. Extract Signature Image

Once OCR is performed, choose the signature and hit the “Extract” option to extract the image.

Conclusion

In summary, this guide explored the different types of signatures and the methods for extracting them from PDFs. After trying various approaches, I found that UPDF offers the smoothest and most reliable experience for how to extract a signature from PDF files. If your work involves handling contracts, templates, or scanned documents, I recommend using UPDF to simplify and streamline your signature management tasks.