Ink Signatures Add Zest to E-mail Messages
E-mail signatures are a great way to perk up your e-mail messages and set you apart from the crowd. They can provide valuable contact information and help you close your messages with a more personalized look and feel.
You don’t have to be a graphic artist or tech whiz to create an e-mail signature that stands out. If you have a mobile PC with ink capabilities, such as a Tablet PC or an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), you can create a handwritten—or ink—signature for your e-mail messages. Ink is the handwriting or drawing strokes that you make with your tablet pen.
A standard e-mail signature compared to an ink signature
Just grab your tablet pen and follow these steps:
Open a new e-mail message in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.
Tap in the message body, tap Start Inking on the Message toolbar, and then use your pen to write your signature.
To avoid giving out your full legal signature, you probably want to sign your first name or your initials only. You can also experiment with different available pen types and colors to make your signature appear just the way you want.
Write your name with a tablet pen
On the Pens toolbar, tap Select Objects, select your signature by tapping it, and then, to copy your signature, right-click by holding your pen to the screen until the shortcut menu appears, and then tap Copy.
Tap Insert, tap outside of the selected text box to put your cursor in the message body, tap the Signature button on the Insert toolbar, and then tap Signatures.
In the Signatures and Stationery dialog box, under Select signature to edit, tap New, and then give the signature a name.
To paste your signature, tap in the Edit Signature box, right-click by holding your pen to the screen until the shortcut menu appears, tap Paste, and then tap OK.
An ink signature with text below it
Now you have a compelling ink signature to transform your messages from commonplace to impressive.
You can create and save several ink signatures to match any occasion. For example, when you're writing an e-mail message to a new customer, you may want to provide your complete contact information, plus your organization's web address. An ink signature that's created for new customers might be just the trick to add sparkle to your tone and create a positive impression, while also providing useful information.
But before you go public with it, give your new signature a test run. Send an e-mail to yourself and see how it looks. Is the text clear and the right size? Is the ink the color and thickness you want? If not, simply repeat the procedure.
When it’s time to close a message to a client, colleague, friend, or family member, you can choose the signature that adds your most meaningful touch.
