As the author of a document, when you certify it, you attest to its contents and control what (if anything) can be done to it while retaining its certified status. If changes occur to the document that you have not permitted, then the document is invalidated and the certification is revoked.
If you are the author of a PDF file, and want to maintain its integrity, apply a certifying signature with the Certify tool. When you certify - rather than add a digital signature - you can control use of the document with the following permitted actions:
TIP: PDF files can be certified only once, but if permissions allow, can be digitally signed many times. This is the benefit of certifying the files you author, rather than signing it.
1. On the Protect tab, in the Certify Document group, click Certify
2. On the Certify Profile Wizard, choose the actions you want to permit from the Permitted actions list
3. Click Next
4. Select a digital ID to certify with, and choose whether or not to make the certificate visible
5. Click Next
6. If you chose to make the certificate visible, click on the page where you would like it to appear:
7. On the Certify Document dialog, do the following:
8. Click Finish
NOTE: When you share certified PDF files with other people, their PDF viewer must support the functionality for certification and signatures to work correctly. Nitro Pro, Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader can share certified and signed PDF files between them.
Discount applies to up to 5 licenses purchased at GoNitro.com.
Offer valid through February 28, 2021.