How Do I Digitally Sign My Photos?

Watermarking images is useful for avoiding piracy and getting your name out, but digitally signing photos adds a more personal touch. Digitally signing your photography can be done with any photo editing program that is capable of working with multiple layers. Once you create a digital signature, you can use it on any of your images.

Write your signature on a neutral-colored sheet of paper with a black pen.

Scan the signed sheet at a resolution of 300 dpi. Save the scanned file as a GIF, JPEG, TIFF file.

Import the scanned signature image into a photo editing program like Photoshop, Gimp, Paint or Illustrator. Eliminate the background with the eraser tool so that the new image will only contain your signature over a transparent background. Darken the signature with the drawing tool if you feel it is necessary.

Save the signature in the native file format and open an image that you would like to digitally sign.

Drag the photo signature file into the layers palette of the image you are signing. Adjust the size and positioning of the signature until your preferences are met.

Save the signed image file under a new name so that you have both the original and the signed image.