How to Collect Signatures in Airtable Forms
Airtable has no signature field. Not in forms, not in the grid view, not anywhere in the platform. If you need to collect a signature and save it to an Airtable record, the native tools don't cover it.
This guide explains how to add signature capture to any Airtable form using Filla, covers the draw and type modes, explains how signatures are stored as image attachments, and shows where this fits into real workflows.
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Why signature capture matters in Airtable workflows
Signatures serve a specific purpose: they confirm that a person reviewed something and agreed to it. For Airtable users managing contracts, agreements, waivers, onboarding paperwork, and approvals, collecting a signature in the same form that collects the rest of the data is the natural flow.
Without native signature support, the workarounds are painful:
- DocuSign or HelloSign as a separate step: Add a third tool, a separate email, a separate signature flow, and then manually update the Airtable record when the signature comes back. Three steps where one would do.
- A separate PDF sent via email: Design a PDF, email it, wait for it to come back signed, scan or photograph it, upload it to the Airtable record. Minutes of manual work per submission.
- Skip signatures entirely: Some teams give up and accept unsigned submissions, losing the legal and accountability value of the signature.
Filla adds a signature widget directly to the form. The respondent signs in the form, and the signature is saved as an image to an Airtable attachment field — in the same submission that captures every other field.
How the Filla signature widget works
The signature widget is a non-data element (a "widget") that you add to any form page in the Filla editor. It isn't tied to an Airtable text or select field — it maps to an attachment field where the signature image is stored.
Two signing modes
Draw mode. The respondent draws their signature with a mouse on desktop, or with their finger or stylus on a touchscreen. The drawing pad renders as a canvas. They can clear and redo until they're satisfied. On completion, the drawn signature is converted to a PNG image.
This is the standard signature experience — closest to pen on paper. It works on any device with a pointing input. On mobile and tablet, the touchscreen experience is natural and accurate.
Type mode. The respondent types their full name into a text input. Filla renders the typed name in a stylized signature font. The rendered text is converted to a PNG image.
This is faster than drawing and useful when you want a name on record rather than a handwritten signature. It's also more accessible — users who struggle with drawing a signature on a trackpad can provide their name in type mode.
You choose which mode is available for each signature widget. You can offer one or both.
Pen color
In draw mode, configure the pen color for the signature. Default is black. Change it to match your brand or form design.
Required or optional
Toggle Required on the signature widget. When required, the form blocks submission until the respondent has signed. When optional, the form submits whether or not a signature is provided.
Conditional display
The signature widget supports the same show/hide conditions as every other field in Filla. Show the signature only when specific conditions are met — for example, show a "Signature" widget only when the respondent selects "I agree to the terms and conditions." This keeps the form clean for respondents who don't need to sign.
Where the signature is saved
The signature is saved as an image (PNG) to an Airtable Attachments field. In the signature widget settings, you select which attachment field receives the signature. You can use an existing attachment field or create a new one directly from the form editor.
When the form is submitted, Airtable receives the signature image as a file attachment — just like if the respondent had uploaded a photo. The image appears in the Airtable grid view as an attachment thumbnail. You can click it to view the full signature.
Since it's a standard Airtable attachment, it works with everything else in your Airtable workflow:
- Reference the attachment field in other Airtable views
- Include it in PDF generation (the Document Generator can pull attachment fields into templates)
- Display it in an Airtable Interface
- Use Airtable automations that trigger on attachment changes
Setting up signature capture: step by step
Step 1: Create or open a form in Filla
Sign up at app.filla.io/signup, connect your Airtable base, and open a form in the editor. The form should be connected to the Airtable table where you want signatures saved.
Step 2: Add a Signature widget to a form page
In the left sidebar palette, find the Capture section. You'll see Signature as a widget option. Drag it onto the canvas — onto any form page, at any position.
A signature pad placeholder appears on the form page.
Step 3: Configure the widget settings
Click the signature widget to open its settings panel on the right:
- Title: The label shown above the signature pad. Default is "Signature." Change it to "Please sign below," "Applicant signature," or whatever fits your context.
- Description: Optional help text shown below the title. Use this to explain what the signature confirms — e.g., "By signing, you confirm that you have read and agree to the terms above."
- Required: Toggle on to make the signature mandatory before submission.
- Save signature to: Select the Airtable attachment field where the image should be stored. If you don't have an attachment field yet, click "Create new field" to add one to your Airtable table.
- How can signers sign?: Choose Draw, Type name, or both.
- Pen Color: Pick the color for drawing mode.
Step 4: Set display conditions (optional)
If the signature should only appear for certain respondents, click Show/hide rules in the widget settings and define your conditions. For example: show only when "Agreement checkbox" is checked.
Step 5: Preview on mobile
Click Preview in the top toolbar. Select the Mobile width toggle. Test the signature pad by drawing on the canvas. Verify the touch experience works as expected.
Step 6: Publish and share
When your form is ready, click Share to get the link or embed code. Signatures are captured and saved from the moment you share the form.
Use cases for Airtable signature capture
Client agreements and SOWs
A consulting firm collects project scope through an Airtable intake form. The last page of the form includes:
- A text block displaying the scope of work (pulled from previous form answers using variable text)
- A checkbox: "I confirm I have read and agree to this scope"
- A signature widget (shown conditionally only when the checkbox is checked)
The client signs in the form. The signature image lands in an "Agreement Signature" attachment field in Airtable. The signed record is created in one step — no DocuSign, no separate email.
Liability waivers
A gym or event organizer collects participant waivers through a form. The waiver text is displayed in a text block. The signature widget at the bottom captures the participant's acknowledgment. The signed waiver is stored as an image in Airtable for each participant record.
Employee onboarding
An HR team uses Airtable to track new hire onboarding. The onboarding form captures personal details, emergency contacts, and payroll preferences. The final page includes a signature: "I confirm the information above is accurate." New hires sign directly in the form on their first day — on a laptop or a tablet.
Delivery and field service confirmations
A logistics team uses Airtable to track deliveries. Field staff complete a delivery form after each drop-off — item description, condition notes, and a customer signature confirming receipt. The customer signs on the field staff's mobile device. The signature lands in the Airtable delivery record automatically.
Grant applications and registrations
A nonprofit collects grant applications via an Airtable form. The final page includes a certification statement and a signature. The signed application becomes a complete record in Airtable — contact info, project description, budget, and the applicant's legal signature all in one place.
Airtable signature capture vs. DocuSign for simple workflows
DocuSign and HelloSign are purpose-built for complex multi-party signature workflows — contracts that require multiple signatories, sequential signing, legal audit trails, and certified delivery. They're the right tool for those scenarios.
For simpler cases — a single person signing a form they just filled out — adding a third-party signature tool creates unnecessary friction. The respondent fills out a form, then gets a separate email, opens a separate interface, and signs in a separate step. That's two touchpoints where one would do.
Filla's signature capture is not a replacement for DocuSign on complex multi-party contracts. It is a replacement for sending a separate signature request when a single respondent needs to sign the form they just completed.
FAQ
Does Airtable have a signature field?
No. Airtable does not have a native signature field in its form view, grid view, or anywhere else in the platform. To collect signatures and store them in Airtable, you need a third-party form builder with signature support. Filla adds a signature widget to Airtable forms that stores the signature as an image in an Airtable attachment field.
What format is the signature saved in?
Filla saves signatures as PNG images. The image is attached to an Airtable Attachments field. It appears in Airtable as a standard image attachment — viewable as a thumbnail in the grid and as a full image when opened.
Can respondents sign on mobile?
Yes. In draw mode, respondents use their finger or stylus on a touchscreen. The signature pad is sized for mobile input and renders accurately on iOS and Android. In type mode, mobile respondents type their name — no drawing required.
Is a drawn Filla signature legally binding?
A drawn signature in a form can serve as evidence of agreement, but legal enforceability depends on your jurisdiction and context. Electronic signatures are legally recognized in the US (ESIGN Act), EU (eIDAS), and most other jurisdictions for a wide range of agreements. For contracts requiring a higher level of assurance — multi-party, high-value, or regulated — use a dedicated e-signature platform with built-in audit trails. For standard waivers, agreements, and confirmations, a Filla signature with the corresponding form submission record typically provides sufficient evidence.
Can I include the signature in a PDF?
Yes. If you use Filla's Generate PDF automation, the document template can include attachment fields — including the signature image field. The signature will appear in the generated PDF at the position you define in the template. This means a submitted form can automatically produce a signed PDF receipt or agreement document.
Can I show a terms and conditions block before the signature?
Yes. Add a Text Block widget above the signature widget. Paste your terms text into it. You can also set the signature widget to appear conditionally — only show the signature when the respondent checks an agreement checkbox. This creates a standard checkbox-then-sign flow.
Add signature capture to your Airtable form →