Before I certify the final valuation report, what three checks must I run to be confident it matches the model and sig…
Open the PDF document you want to certify in Adobe Acrobat.
Go to the Tools pane and select Protect.
In the Protect toolbar, click Certify with Visible Signature or Certify with Invisible Signature depending on your preference.
Drag to draw the signature field on the page if prompted for a visible signature, or confirm placement for an invisible signature.
In the dialog that appears, select your digital ID from the list or add a new one if necessary.
Set the Permissions options to control what changes are allowed after certifying (e.g., no changes, form fill-in only, or comments only).
Optionally, enter a reason for certifying the document.
Click Sign to apply the certifying signature.
Save the PDF when prompted to complete the certification process.
Best practiceIf you need to allow others to fill forms or add comments after certification, choose the appropriate restriction option before signing.
After certifying a PDF, Acrobat will display a blue ribbon in the document’s toolbar to indicate the document is certified and show any allowed changes.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
| Feature | Purpose | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Certify PDF | Makes the document official and protects its content from changes. | Can only be applied to a PDF with no other signatures. It is the first signature. |
| Digital Signature | Proves who signed the document and confirms agreement. | Can be added to a PDF that already has other signatures. |
Using a digital ID is crucial because it links your unique identity to the certification. This ID contains your private key, which creates the digital signature. This signature proves that you, and only you, certified the document, making it legally binding and trustworthy.
If you need to apply an organization's seal, like a company stamp, you can use the Adobe Electronic Seal API. This API helps apply seals that are compliant with standards like eIDAS. However, this API is for an organization's seal, not for a personal digital signature used to 'certify' a document in the way Acrobat's desktop feature does.
When a PDF is certified, it means the document creator has approved its content. This also locks the document, so no one can make changes without showing that the document has been altered. It gives a high level of trust to the document.