PDF Guide

How to Edit and Sign a PDF Online

PDF files are used for invoices, forms, approvals, applications, reports, contracts, certificates, delivery notes, and office documents. Sometimes you do not need a full desktop PDF program — you only need to add a signature, write a note, place a stamp, highlight an area, or add page numbers.

Need to edit a PDF now?

Use SHB ToolBox PDF Editor to add text, signatures, stamps, images, highlights, boxes, headers, footers, page numbers, Bates numbers, and metadata directly in your browser.

Open PDF Editor

What can you edit in a PDF?

PDF editing can mean different things. Some users want to change the original text inside a PDF, while others only want to annotate the document. Browser-based editors are best for practical tasks like adding visible items on top of the PDF page: text, signatures, stamps, images, boxes, highlights, page numbers, and headers or footers.

If a PDF is scanned, the page may behave like an image. In that case, you can still place annotations on the page, but directly editing the original text may require OCR or a more advanced document workflow.

Common PDF editing tasks

Add text

Write names, dates, notes, amounts, approval comments, or missing form details.

Add signature

Upload a transparent signature image and place it on approval areas or signature lines.

Add stamp or logo

Place company stamps, paid marks, approved marks, seals, logos, or image labels.

Highlight important areas

Mark important text, totals, dates, reference numbers, or approval sections.

Add page numbers

Number pages for reports, submissions, agreements, and multi-page documents.

Edit metadata

Add document title, author, subject, and keywords for cleaner document organization.

Step-by-step: sign a PDF online

  1. Open the PDF Editor.Select your PDF file and wait for the page preview to load.
  2. Upload your signature.Use a clean PNG or JPG signature image. Transparent PNG usually looks best.
  3. Place the signature.Click the signature tool, place it on the correct area, then move or resize it if needed.
  4. Adjust layer order.If a signature overlaps a stamp or image, use bring forward/send backward controls so it appears correctly.
  5. Review the preview carefully.Zoom in and check whether the signature, stamp, text, and page layout look correct.
  6. Download the edited PDF.Save the output with a clear filename and keep the original copy separately.

Tips for clean PDF signing

  • Use a transparent PNG signature when possible.
  • Keep a copy of the original PDF before editing.
  • Do not cover important text, dates, totals, or reference numbers.
  • Use layer controls if a stamp hides your signature.
  • Check all pages before sending the final PDF.
  • Use page numbers for multi-page approvals or reports.
  • Use metadata fields for better document organization.

PDF editor checklist before downloading

✅ Correct PDF file selected

✅ Text is readable and placed correctly

✅ Signature is visible and not hidden behind a stamp

✅ Stamp or logo size looks professional

✅ Highlights do not block important text

✅ Page numbers and headers/footers are correct

✅ Output filename is clear

FAQ: Edit and sign PDF online

Can I sign a PDF without installing software?

Yes. A browser-based PDF editor can add a signature image directly on top of the PDF page.

Can I move and resize added items?

Yes. In SHB ToolBox PDF Editor, added items such as text, signatures, images, boxes, and highlights can be moved and resized.

Why is my signature hidden behind a stamp?

This happens when the stamp layer is above the signature layer. Use bring forward or send backward controls to correct the order.

Can scanned PDFs be edited?

You can annotate scanned PDFs by adding visible items on top of the page. Directly changing scanned text usually requires OCR.