Insert a signature

Your handwritten signature gives your document a personal touch. You can scan your signature and store it as a picture to insert in the document.

You can also insert a signature line to indicate where a signature should be written.

Create and insert a handwritten signature

You need a scanner to do this.

Crop command on the Picture Tools Format tab

  1. Write your signature on a piece of paper.
  2. Scan the page and save it on your computer in a common file format: .bmp, .jpg, or .png. For information on how to use your scanner, use the manufacturer’s manual or Web site.
  3. Open the image file in Word.
  4. Select the image and on the Picture Format tab, select Crop and use the handles to crop the image.

The Pictures command on the Insert tab

  • Right-click the image and choose Save as Picture to save as a separate file.
  • To add the signature to a document, select Insert >Picture s.

    Include typewritten text with your reusable signature

    If you want information like your job title, phone number, or email address to be part of your signature, save it along with the picture as AutoText.

    Quick Parts command on the Insert tab

    1. Type the text you want under the inserted picture.
    2. Select the picture and the typed text.
    3. Select Insert >Quick Parts.

    Create New Building Block dialog box

    Select Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery. The Create New Building Block box opens.

    Insert a signature line

    Use the Signature Line command to insert a signature line with an X by it to show where to sign a document.

    The Signature Line command on the Insert tab

    1. Click where you want the line.
    2. Select Insert >Signature Line.

    A signature line in Word with an X indicating where the signature should be written

  • Select Microsoft Office Signature Line.
  • In the Signature Setup box, you can type a name in the Suggested signer box. You can also add a title in the Suggested signer’s title box.
  • Select OK. The signature line appears in your document.

    Your handwritten signature gives your document a personal touch. You can scan your signature, store it as a picture, and then insert your signature in Word documents.

    Scan and insert a picture of your handwritten signature

    You need a scanner to do this.

    1. Write your signature on a piece of paper.
    2. Scan the page and save it on your computer in a common file format: .BMP, .GIF, .JPG, or .PNG.

    Tip: For information on how to use your scanner, use the manufacturer’s manual or Web site.

    On the Insert tab, Picture from File is highlighted.

    On the Insert tab, select Pictures >Picture from File.

    On the Picture Format tab, Crop is highlighted.

  • Browse to the picture you want to insert, select it, and then select Insert.
  • Select the picture to show the Picture Format tab.
  • On the Picture Format tab, select Crop, and then crop the signature.

    Include text with your reusable signature

    If you want information, such as your job title, phone number, or email address to be part of your signature, save it along with the picture as AutoText.

    1. Type the text you want under the inserted picture.
    2. Select the picture and the typed text.
    3. On the Insert menu, select AutoText >New.

    Create New AutoText dialog box

    The Create New AutoText box opens.