Filed under: Video, Odds and ends, Macbook Pro, MacBook, Found Footage, MacBook Air, Snow Leopard
Have a MacBook running Snow Leopard? Give someone your Autograph
Up to this point in time, if you wanted to "sign" an electronic document (other than a secure PDF), you either had to scan your signature with a scanner and import the resulting graphic into your document, or purchase a digitizing tablet. Ten One Design, the same folks who brought us the Pogo Sketch stylus, have come up with a way for anyone with Snow Leopard and a MacBook that supports multi-touch gestures to sign documents. Autograph (US$6.95) is a signature capture application that works with your MacBook and a finger or stylus to make signing your name a snap. If you don't know if your MacBook will work with Autograph, you can download a trial copy that adds a watermark to the signature just to try it out.
To add your John Hancock to an email or document when Autograph is running (I have it set up to launch at startup), you can either select the menu bar icon or press control-option-A, and then a semi-transparent gray window appears. Using your finger or a stylus on your trackpad like a pen, you can write your name or draw a little picture. Pressing return embeds the signature or sketch into your document.
Autograph works great! I was able to use it in Mail, Word, Keynote, and Pages, and I'm assuming that it will work fine in any Mac application that lets you paste in a graphic. I know I'll be using this handy little program to add a personal touch to my documents. The short silent video below demonstrates Autograph in action.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bill cant fart said 8:11AM on 9-01-2009
White Macbooks too?
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Dave said 8:21AM on 9-01-2009
not multi touch :( meh
Johnny said 8:34AM on 9-01-2009
Thanks for the tip; I just ordered mine! Apparently, if you order the Pogo Sketch Stylus, you get the Autograph app for free!
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Level 5 said 8:35AM on 9-01-2009
Very cool.. I find myself doing this on my Touch Pro alot actually.
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Simon said 11:18AM on 9-01-2009
Touch Pro?
Marius said 9:46AM on 9-01-2009
Wow, this is awesome. Can't wait to get my hands on Snow Leo to see if it works.
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Benjamin said 9:00AM on 9-01-2009
Why not just use a scanner? It’s not as if you can’t keep the scan and re-use it in other documents.
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Martin said 9:07AM on 9-01-2009
That's what I was thinking. I think something like this could have use capturing something like customer signatures, but if it is my own I'd just use an image.
7egend said 9:33AM on 9-01-2009
OR... use the trackpad on that $1,200+ MacBook(Pro) you just bought, and save the scanner for things that need to be scanned.
Apple is all about going Green, and here you are willing to waste a whole sheet of paper just for your signature.
Jonathan said 9:38AM on 9-01-2009
@7egend -
Well one can use that paper for scrap ya know? Write down equations, or other none sense, or perhaps, put it upside down into your printer and use it for printing out an email or something?
Johnny said 10:16AM on 9-01-2009
I was going to say the same thing. I've been using a scan of my signature for some time now. Anyway, what does this have to do with Snow Leopard again?
MikeWard1701 said 12:08PM on 9-01-2009
I once considered scanning my signature and simply importing it into documents, but the security cancerns made me think otherwise.
Your signature is legally binding, be it written or printed.
Having it permenantly stored on your computer as an image file may seem like a good idea, until said file is compromised either by hacker/malware, or you machine is stolen/lost.
ID theft is possible even with the most arbitrary data, an electronic copy of your signature would be a holy grail to fraudsters!
Daniel said 2:53PM on 9-01-2009
@MikeWard1701
If you're worried about somebody getting a hold of a scanned image of your signature, then you should never sign anything that will leave your possession. How many documents have you signed in your life? How many of those have been used and then thrown away? How many of those have been scanned into company databases? I had the same thoughts when I considered whether to save a scanned copy of my signature on my computer or not and came to the realization that if somebody wants my signature, there are probably easier ways than hacking into my computer.
If you are really worried about hackers and you go the print/sign/scan route and then you email that document out, how hard do you think it would be for a hacker to intercept that email and grab your signature from that document?
In the end, I decided to go with the scanned signature to make my life easier. I do take some precautions such as storing the image in an encrypted volume so that it's not just right out in the open.
marc said 9:56AM on 9-01-2009
wow danny, you're really smart! the author will be delighted to read this...
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Todd Sieling said 9:59AM on 9-01-2009
I use a scanned copy of my signature to drop into contracts, but one place that doesn't work completely is where the signing has to be witnessed. That process usually requires a print-sign-scan flow that Autograph fixes.
I'm definitely buying this, because $7 is a deal. @Dannyboy, I hope things turn around and you can afford $7 software soon, it feels much better to buy it..
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Richard Hale said 11:18AM on 9-01-2009
Just downloaded it. It doesn't seem to be accepting my input on a late 08 MBP. Just a blank grey square, no input. Shame, was really loving the idea of this.
danny said 10:03AM on 9-01-2009
Yeah, Im sorry Steven,
I must admit i always light up when i see your name at the top of an article, i know it will be good. However, software that watermarks images are the easiest things to work around.
However, i think if u find it very useful. just buy it. if you have limited use for it, hack it.
Good night, god bless.
x
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IZodiac339 said 4:08PM on 9-01-2009
ha you just got censored. figures!
IZodiac339 said 10:51AM on 9-01-2009
I'd never even consider paying $7 for this software so thank you, danny, for that. Now let's see if TUAW censors us :-P
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Vaughn Simon said 11:15AM on 9-01-2009
Will this work on Unibody MacBook Pros? When I try it nothing happens in the bubble that pops up. What is wrong?
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