Signature Maker

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this signature legally valid?+

  The image on its own proves nothing — whether a document signed with it counts depends on how it is used and what the document is. Singapore’s Electronic Transactions Act 2010 (s 8) and Malaysia’s Electronic Commerce Act 2006 (s 9) test the signing method, not the look: a method that identifies you, shows you intended to sign, and is as reliable as the purpose calls for (in Singapore, a method proven in fact to have done the first two also counts). A typed name or a pasted image can be such a method. It is only an ordinary electronic signature, though: Singapore gives legal presumptions only to a “secure electronic signature” — unique to you, under your sole control, invalidated if the document changes — which an image is not, and which Sign with Singpass says its signatures are. Singapore’s Act does not apply to wills; to trusts and powers of attorney (except implied, constructive and resulting trusts and, since 14 November 2022, a lasting power of attorney); or to contracts for the sale or other disposition of immovable property, or its conveyance. Negotiable instruments were on that list until 19 March 2021, when they moved to a separate regime for electronic transferable records. Malaysia’s Act covers commercial transactions only, and its Schedule (2012 reprint) excludes powers of attorney, wills and codicils, trusts, and negotiable instruments. The other side can also refuse an e-signature and ask for another form. This describes the statutes; it is not legal advice. For a document that matters, ask the recipient what they accept, or ask a lawyer.

• What is the “Transparent PNG” and how do I use it?+

  It exports a high-resolution image of just the signature on a transparent background. With no white box around it, you can overlay it anywhere — a Word/PDF sign-off, an email signature, a watermark on a photo or design — and it sits naturally on light or dark backgrounds. Use it like any inserted image.

• Does it work with Chinese names?+

  Yes! Type a Chinese name and the styles switch to genuine Chinese calligraphy, so your name becomes an authentic calligraphic signature. Simplified names get four styles — 楷 (regular), 行 (running), 草 (cursive) and 毛笔 (brush). If any character is outside the simplified set those four fonts hold — a traditional form such as 陳, or a rarer name character such as 玥 — the name moves to 文楷 (Wenkai), which has a larger character set, plus 楷書 (Kai) whenever it has every character, so the whole name renders in one hand. All the Chinese calligraphy fonts (simplified and traditional alike) are open-source (SIL OFL). For Latin scripts, just enter an English name.

• Can I switch between Simplified and Traditional?+

  Yes. Once you type a Chinese name, a “→ Traditional / → Simplified” button appears — one tap converts the name between the two scripts and instantly re-renders it in that script’s calligraphy. Note that Simplified→Traditional can be one-to-many (e.g. 发 → 發/髮); the conversion picks the most common form, and if a character isn’t right for your name you can simply edit it in the box.

• How many styles and colours are there?+

  It depends on the name, because each script has faces of its own — fifteen in all. A Latin name gets four scripts (Elegant, Casual, Brush, Bouncy). A simplified Chinese name gets four calligraphy styles (楷 regular, 行 running, 草 cursive, 毛笔 brush). A name with a character outside that simplified set — a traditional form such as 陳, or a rarer name character such as 玥 — gets 文楷 (Wenkai), plus 楷書 (Kai) when Kai has every character. A name with kana gets three Japanese brush styles, and a Hangul name two Korean ones. Five inks and an optional underline work with all of them.

• Is the exported image high quality? Can I print it?+

  Yes. The card exports at high resolution. The transparent PNG is drawn at a fixed 160-pixel type size — the same file on a phone as on a desktop — cropped to the signature’s own edges with a small margin, and tagged at 300 dpi, so it stays crisp in print. All images are generated on your device, never via a server.

• Does the same name produce the same signature every time?+

  Yes. It’s set in a fixed font, so the same name + style + ink always gives an identical, reproducible result. That’s the biggest difference from real handwriting — a real person’s signature varies slightly each time.

• Is the name I type saved?+

  No. The name is used only for the live generation — never uploaded, written to the URL, or saved to localStorage. The whole tool runs locally and clears on refresh.

• Can the fonts be used commercially?+

  All fifteen faces are open-source under the SIL Open Font License: Great Vibes, Sacramento, Alex Brush and Dancing Script (Latin); Ma Shan Zheng, Zhi Mang Xing, Liu Jian Mao Cao and Long Cang (simplified Chinese); Iansui and LXGW WenKai (Chinese with a larger character set); Yuji Syuku, Yuji Boku and Yuji Mai (Japanese); Nanum Brush Script and Nanum Pen Script (Korean). Each licence is served next to its font. Because we serve trimmed subsets, a face whose licence reserves its original name is served under a name of our own. The licence governs the font software, not what you make with it: the signature images you export are yours to use personally or commercially. Whether an image can sign a document is a separate question — see the first answer above.

• How do I add it to my Gmail / Outlook email signature?+

  First export the signature with “Transparent PNG”. In Gmail, go to Settings → General → Signature, click the insert-image icon in the signature box, and choose the PNG you downloaded. In Outlook, do the same under New Email → Signature → Edit. Because the background is transparent, it blends into light or dark email templates.

• Is the tool free?+

  Completely free, no signup, make as many signatures as you like. It all happens in your browser, instantly.