Signature Capture Field

The signature capture field lets respondents draw their signature directly on your form using a mouse, trackpad, or finger on a touchscreen. It is ideal for collecting consent, approvals, and legally-binding acknowledgments without printing or scanning paper documents.

Adding a Signature Field

To add a signature field to your form:

1. Open the form editor and find Signature in the field panel under the Advanced category.
2. Click it or drag it onto the canvas where you want it to appear.
3. Click the field to select it and open its settings in the right panel.

The signature field displays a rectangular drawing area with a clear button. Respondents draw their signature inside this area, and a “Clear” button lets them start over if they are not satisfied with their signature.

How Respondents Sign

When a respondent reaches the signature field, they see a bordered canvas area with an instruction prompt such as “Draw your signature above.” They sign by:

• Desktop — Clicking and dragging with the mouse or trackpad to draw their signature.
• Mobile and tablet — Using their finger or a stylus to draw directly on the touchscreen.

The drawing experience is smooth and responsive on all devices. The canvas automatically adjusts its size to fit the screen width, ensuring a comfortable signing experience whether the respondent is on a large desktop monitor or a small phone screen.

Signature Settings

Configure the signature field to match your needs using the settings in the right panel:

Required

Toggle the Required setting to make the signature mandatory. When enabled, respondents cannot submit the form without providing a signature. This is recommended for consent forms, contracts, and any form where the signature is legally necessary.

Line Color

Choose the color of the signature stroke. The default is black, which works well for most use cases. You can change it to dark blue or another color if your brand or document style calls for it. Pick a color that contrasts well against the background for readability.

Background

Set the background color of the signature canvas. The default is white, which simulates a paper-like signing experience. You can set it to transparent if you want the signature to blend into your form’s background, or choose a light color for a custom look.

Signature Data Storage

When a respondent signs and submits the form, the signature is saved as a PNG image. This image is:

• Stored securely in WittyForm’s cloud storage alongside the form response.
• Rendered at a resolution that preserves the detail of the handwritten signature.
• Accessible from the response detail view as a downloadable image file.
• Included in exports as a download URL that workspace members can access.

The PNG format ensures compatibility with virtually any system you might need to import the signature into, including document management systems, PDF generators, and CRM tools.

Use Cases

The signature field is versatile and fits a wide range of scenarios:

Consent Forms

Medical consent forms, research participation agreements, and data processing consent forms all benefit from a signature field. Place a statement block describing what the respondent is consenting to, followed by the signature field.

Contracts and Agreements

Freelance contracts, service agreements, and rental agreements can be signed electronically. Combine the signature field with date and name fields to create a complete signing experience. The timestamp of the submission serves as the signing date.

Waivers

Liability waivers for events, fitness classes, adventure activities, and similar scenarios. Present the waiver text as a statement field or rich text field, then collect the signature below it.

Delivery Confirmations

Use the signature field on a mobile-friendly form to collect delivery confirmation signatures. Delivery personnel can hand their device to the recipient for a quick signature.

Mobile vs Desktop Experience

WittyForm optimizes the signature experience for each device type:

• Desktop — The signature canvas is wider, taking advantage of the available screen space. Mouse-drawn signatures tend to be less natural-looking, but are perfectly valid.
• Tablet — The best signing experience. The touch screen provides a natural, paper-like feel, especially with a stylus. The canvas adapts to the tablet’s width.
• Phone — The canvas scales to fit the phone screen width. The drawing area is narrower but still functional. Respondents can rotate their phone to landscape mode for more space if needed.

Best Practices

• Always mark the signature field as required when the signature is legally meaningful.
• Place the signature field near the end of the form, after the respondent has reviewed all the information or terms.
• Include a clear statement above the signature field explaining what the respondent is agreeing to by signing.
• Use a white background and black line color for the most professional, document-like appearance.
• Test the signature field on mobile devices to ensure the signing experience is smooth for your audience.
• Pair the signature with a full name text field and a date field to create a complete electronic signature record.