Requiring drawn signatures and initials is useful when you need a visual, handwritten form of assent, consistent placement of initials, or greater assurance that the signer physically controlled the signing action on their device.
A contracts manager configures documents to require drawn signatures and initials, maps fields to the correct pages, and reviews completed audit trails to ensure each drawn image meets internal acceptance criteria for authenticity and placement.
A field agent sends and collects signatures using mobile devices, guides signers to draw signatures in designated fields, and confirms that initials appear on required pages before finalizing and archiving the signed document.
Organizations that need clear visual endorsement and precise initial placement use drawn signatures and initial fields in electronic workflows.
Teams across legal, real estate, healthcare, and education often standardize on drawn signature and initials fields for consistency and auditability.
An interactive field that lets signers produce a freehand signature with a stylus, finger, or mouse; the drawn image is saved as part of the document and bound to signer metadata for verification.
A smaller, dedicated field for initials that ensures consistent placement on amendments and multi-page documents, preventing missed initials and creating explicit linkage to specific clauses.
Settings to mark signature and initials fields as required, preventing completion until the signer draws acceptable input and reducing incomplete submissions or unsigned clauses.
Responsive input handling that adjusts sensitivity and display for touchscreens, styluses, and mouse input to improve signer accuracy and preserve drawn line quality across devices.
| Feature and Configuration Header Name | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Field Type | Draw only |
| Initials Field Type | Draw only |
| Required Fields Enforcement | On |
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Field Validation Rules | Non-empty image |
Requiring signers to draw signatures and initials works across common desktop and mobile environments, but device capabilities affect usability.
For best results, advise signers to use a tablet or smartphone with a stylus or use a desktop with a mouse; ensure the browser is up to date and that touch events are enabled to capture accurate drawn signatures and initials.
A hospital integrates drawn signature and initials fields into patient consent forms to capture handwritten agreement at point of care
Resulting in clearer records for compliance and fewer disputes over consent capture.
A property manager requires drawn signatures and initials on lease pages and special clauses to ensure tenants initial every modified clause
Leading to faster move-in processing and reduced conflicts over uninitialed changes.
| eSignature Vendor Feature Matrix Comparison | signNow (Featured) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw Signature and Initials Support | |||
| Mobile native draw capture | |||
| Field-level required enforcement | |||
| Audit metadata for draws | Timestamp/IP | Timestamp/IP | Timestamp/IP |
| Pricing Plans Across Vendors Header | signNow (Featured) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | HelloSign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (individual) | From $8/user/month (annual) | From $10/user/month | From $9.99/user/month | From $15/user/month | From $19/user/month |
| API access availability | Available on Business plans | Available via API plans | Available via enterprise | Available on API plans | Available on Business plans |
| Draw signature support | Included in core plan | Included in core plan | Included in core plan | Included in core plan | Included in core plan |
| Bulk sending feature | Available on advanced plans | Available on advanced plans | Enterprise feature | Available on advanced plans | Available on advanced plans |
| HIPAA-compliant option | Offered with BAAs | Offered with enterprise BAAs | Offered with enterprise BAAs | Case-by-case | Offered with enterprise BAAs |
Activate the setting that disables typed and image-based signatures and initials for all your signers using the slider. Recipients will be required to draw their signature from scratch using a touch screen or mouse cursor. Thus, signers won’t be able to autofill signature fields using a previously saved signature. As a document owner, you will also be able to add drawn signatures only. The setting can only be enabled by the airSlate SignNow support team. Please contact us for further details.
