Trust note
Visual PDF signatures are not digital signatures.
Operators/4 min read
A plain-language distinction between visual signature stamps and cryptographic signing.
A visual stamp is only a mark
Typed or drawn signatures placed on a PDF are visual marks. They can be useful for informal workflows, but they do not prove identity or protect the file from later edits.
Digital signatures are different
A digital signature is cryptographic. It can show whether a document changed after signing and usually depends on certificates, identity checks, and specialized signing flows.
The wording matters
Tools should call the basic version a visual signature stamp. Calling it a legal e-signature or digital signature creates false confidence.
Next step
Use the related tool first, then keep the article as a reference for the limits and tradeoffs behind the workflow.