Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Preview won't capture signature

When I go to add a signature in Preview, I hold the signature up to the camera and nothing happens. I've seen videos of people doing the same thing and Preview instantaneously shows a preview of their signature. I do not have the same luck. Pressing Accept just closes the window and doesn't add a signature. I'm unsure what to do now, as I need to add a signature to a PDF document and would rather not take a picture of the screenshot and paste it into the original Word document.

Preview-OTHER, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 15" MacBook Pro with Retina Display

Posted on Nov 9, 2013 12:43 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 26, 2014 3:36 PM

I had the same problem, quit Preview multiple times, but finally got it to work via blind luck. I arranged a bright light above and behind the computer, but even that wouldn't work until I took my paper with sig and sort of angled it toward the light (no longer parallel to the computer) until my preview appeared, then I could move the paper back to parallel and click Accept. The eye hand coordination for this was a bit challanging, so doubt I could accomplish this with even a mild blood alchohol %, so please do try my fix only when sober.


Alas, just another item in the long list of bugs and Apple slipping on quality control. There was a time when Apple meant it just works (and I have been using Macs since the early 90s), but now Apple is the new Microsoft in my life. Constant annoyances and headaches. Surely Apple can pay the best of the best. The loser who signed off on this should be fired because he/she failed.


Sorry Apple, but if you are going to take us all to the cleaners and lock out all competition and innovation, can you at least make stuff that works again?

34 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 26, 2014 3:36 PM in response to minimac93

I had the same problem, quit Preview multiple times, but finally got it to work via blind luck. I arranged a bright light above and behind the computer, but even that wouldn't work until I took my paper with sig and sort of angled it toward the light (no longer parallel to the computer) until my preview appeared, then I could move the paper back to parallel and click Accept. The eye hand coordination for this was a bit challanging, so doubt I could accomplish this with even a mild blood alchohol %, so please do try my fix only when sober.


Alas, just another item in the long list of bugs and Apple slipping on quality control. There was a time when Apple meant it just works (and I have been using Macs since the early 90s), but now Apple is the new Microsoft in my life. Constant annoyances and headaches. Surely Apple can pay the best of the best. The loser who signed off on this should be fired because he/she failed.


Sorry Apple, but if you are going to take us all to the cleaners and lock out all competition and innovation, can you at least make stuff that works again?

Nov 26, 2013 4:25 AM in response to waynefromst clair

Hi Waynefromst,


Thanks for your reply - but if it was that easy I wouldn't have a problem 🙂 It appears it works for some people but not everyone. When I put any paper with a signature up to the camera, nothing is rendered on the right. Clicking accept also does not actually do anything. The list of signatures remains empty.


I used this feature very often in 10.8 so I have a pretty good handle on how it works. It is most definitely a bug.


Denis

Preview won't capture signature

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.