computer tips for Apple users

I love my Apple MacBook Pro, though at four, it is getting on in years.  I’m pretty good on it.  I know the basics.  I use shortcuts.  I would consider myself fluent.  Every week, David Pogue writes a column for the New York Times on technology. That’s when I learn how much I don’t know. 

This week I learn two things: how to electronically add a signature to a pdf and how to magnify portions of a pdf.    

SPOILER ALERT!  Stop reading here if this topic doesn't interest you.  There is no drama or humor in what follows, just information.

Yesterday I got an NDA to sign from my friend Josh (who by the way, I haven’t hear from).  A few weeks ago, my accountant electronically sent me my taxes to sign.  In both cases, I had to print out the PDF, sign it, then scan it back into my computer. 

Thanks to Mr. Pogue, I learn a simpler way.  This works in OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, and beyond:

    Launch Preview, and from the Preview menu select Preferences.

    Click on “Signatures” and then Create Signature.

    Write your signature on a piece of white paper and hold it up to the camera; try to have it somewhat straight on the blue line and watch the Signature Preview pane until you are satisfied with the way it looks.

    Click Accept to capture the digital signature (I did two, one in cursive and one printed, as many signature-required documents ask for both).

I can now access and stamp my signature onto any PDF files opened within Preview.

    Open the PDF file you want to sign

    Click on View, then Show Edit Toolbar.

    Click on the symbol that looks like a small S with a line underneath it.

    Make sure the signature you want to include is checked.

    The trick is the cursor needs to change into a crosshair symbol.

     Your signature will appear somewhere near the top of the document.

    Just drag it to wherever you want your signature to appear and drop it in.  it is very easy to manipulate

    Voila, once the PDF is signed, just save the document and it’s ready to be used.

And it looks great.

Here's another tip, for those still reading.   To zoom in on any part of a PDF, just click on the tilde key (that’s the one under the Escape key).

What can I say, I’m a closet computer geek.