How To Design On A Mac

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When you download an app on Android or Windows, you get an option, or it automatically creates a shortcut on the home screen or the desktop. On Mac too creating a folder or app shortcut is extremely easy. It hardly requires four clicks. We first make an alias and then move it to the desired location.

You can add shortcuts for folders and apps to the desktop or Dock of your Mac. The first method below is the one I prefer. The second method is also quick, but it at times copies the folder instead of making the shortcut. Anyways, here are two easy ways to create desktop shortcuts on Mac running macOS Big Sur or Catalina.

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How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac

Step #1. Decide which folder's or app's desktop shortcut you want to create. Find where the folder is located. If you cannot find it, see the end for instructions.

Step #2.Right-click on the folder or app name and click on Make Alias.

Step #3. You will see that a shortcut is immediately created for that folder or app. Press enter key. It has the word alias at the end of the name.

Step #4. Drag this shortcut to your desktop or Dock. You may also copy the shortcut and paste it on the desktop.

This is it!

You have successfully created the desktop shortcut for a folder or app. Now you may quickly use this to open that folder, or launch the app. You may repeat this with as many folders and apps you like.

If you wish, you may select the shortcut, press the enter key, and rename it to remove the word ‘alias.'

Finally, if you wish to see the original folder, right-click on the shortcut icon and click on Show Original.

Note 1: Even if you move the original folder to some other location, the shortcut you created still works. Beautiful! Isn't it.

Note 2: You may use this method to create shortcuts even for files like image, document, zip, music, movie, etc.

Not able to Find the Folder Location?

Finding applications is clear. You click on Finder → Applications, and there you have all your applications. Knowing the location of the Folders you create is also straightforward.

But for some folders, especially system folders like Downloads, Documents, etc. it may be a bit tough to know the path. Here are some ways to know it.

#1. From Sidebar: Launch Finder, place your pointer on the folder name in left Sidebar, and then right-click. Finally, click Show in Enclosing Folder. Now follow the above steps.

#2. Using Path Bar: Be inside Finder and click on View from the menu bar. Now click Show Path Bar. A tab will be added to the bottom of the Finder. It has the location/path for the folder you click or select.

#3. Use Spotlight Search: Launch Spotlight Search by clicking the search icon in menu bar or press Command (⌘) + Space Bar. Now type the folder name and then scroll to the bottom of the search result and click on Show all in Finder… Click on the folder and follow the above steps to make its shortcut.

#4. Use Siri: I do not like Siri on Mac, notably older Macs. Anyways, you may ask Siri on Mac to ‘Show Download Folder' (or any folder) and then go to the bottom of the result and click on Show all results in Finder… Now you may follow the above steps. Please note that this does not always work.

Create Desktop Shortcuts on Mac Using Drag and Drop

The above method is swift and simple. It is the one I prefer. However, there is an additional way to create folder and app shortcuts on Mac.

Step #1. Be at the location of the folder or app you want to create the shortcut of.

Step #2. Press and hold Option (⌥) + Command (⌘) key together. Do not leave the hold. Now click on the folder or app and drag it to the desktop.

Note: When you use this method, there are chances that you may unwillingly and unknowingly copy or move the folder instead of making its shortcut. Don't worry. Press Command (⌘) + Z to undo and try again, or use the first method.

Add Folder Shortcuts to Dock on Mac

I recently wrote a post where I explained how to add website shortcuts to Dock on Mac. It is an interesting article. Similarly, you may add shortcuts to your Dock too.

How To Design On A Mac Keyboard

Follow any of the above methods and make the shortcut of the folder or app (you may directly add an app to Dock, but anyway). Now drag that shortcut from Desktop to the rightmost part of Dock (Second left to the Trash icon).

Wrapping up…

These were two easy ways to create shortcut icons on Mac. There is a third method that I know of, which requires Terminal and some command lines. However, it is tricky and beyond the simplicity of the average user. Also, if you change the folder location, the shortcut stops working. So I did not mention this method.

Secondly, on Macs running OS versions before Catalina, you may also click on a Folder or App and then press together Command (⌘) + L. How to edit a photo size on mac. It will instantly make the alias. It works on my old MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra, but on a different MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Catalina, this quick method does not seem to work.

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What are your thoughts regarding shortcuts on Mac? Have you used it on Windows? How was the experience there? Share your opinion in the comment section below.

Suraj is a digital marketing expert on the iGB's team. He contributes to the social media section along with tips and tricks for iPhone, Apple Watch. Apart from blogging, he likes to work out as much as he can in his gym and love to listening to retro music.

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Printing and faxing can be a total pain and waste of time. That's why you need to learn how to electronically sign PDF documents. It's a simple way to certify that a document is authentic and confirm the identity of the signee. Adding signatures on PDF using Mac, will surely save a lot of your time and will be much less of a hassle.

Ways To Sign A PDF On Mac

Now you don't need to worry about printing a document, signing it with a pen, and then scanning it again. Today, signing a PDF digitally and returning it via email or file sharing platform sounds effortless enough.

PART 1- How To Sign A PDF On Mac Using Preview Tool?

How To Design On A Mac Catalina

The built-in Preview tool offers a better way for editing & signing PDF on Mac. Follow the instructions to learn the step-by-step procedure:

STEP 1- On your Mac, hit the Finder icon from the Dock. Select the desired folder or file and right-click to open it in Preview. Alternatively, you can just drag a file to the Preview icon from the Dock, if it is present there.

STEP 2- From the Preview app, click the Markup Toolbox icon. The option looks like a ‘pen in a circle' like a symbol. You can find it near the search field.

STEP 3- As soon as you click that option, you should be displayed the set of editing features. You can see tools for Sketching, Drawing, Adding Shapes & more. From the list, you need to look for the Sign icon that looks like a ‘Scrawled bit of handwriting'. As soon as you find it, click it!

STEP 4- Since you are signing a PDF for the first time on Mac. You need to click the Create Signature option to make a new one. You need to hit the ‘Click Here' option to begin the process.

STEP 5- Now you have two options to create a Digital Signature To Sign A PDF on Mac. Using Trackpad or Camera. Scribbling it on a trackpad using your finger or stylus is the easiest yet quickest way to add signs.

STEP 6- Alternate way to add signs is through the Camera option. Start by writing a signature on a plain, white paper and then simply holding it up to the webcam. Make sure you are holding the piece of paper steady and your writing matches the guideline.

This is how you can add signatures using Preview tell and then use it in a PDF. You can move and resize the signature to suit your needs. Another workaround to sign PDF on Mac is through using Apple Mail.

Must-Read: How To Add Signatures In Gmail?

PART 2- How To Sign Documents In Mail Using Mac?

You've learnt how to create digital signatures in Preview, but there's a user-friendly way in your Mail app too. To start signing PDFs on Mac using Mail, follow the instructions below:

STEP 1- The capability to sign documents digitally with the Mail app was introduced with Mac OS X Yosemite.

STEP 2- Drag the document from Finder into the reply email, where you want to send the documents signed digitally.

STEP 3- Now hover over the attachment until you see a drop-down menu. From the set of options, you need to click the Markup option.

STEP 4- From the next window, you can use your trackpad or mouse to sign your document in the required space.

Once you are done, signing the documents or PDFs, click the Done option. It will be signed and attached for sending.

Must-Read: Best Free PDF Editor Websites To Edit Your Doc

PART 3- How To Add Signature To PDF On Mac Via Third-Party PDF Editing Tool?

If you have advanced PDF Editing requirements, such as PDF merging, splitting, annotating, and more we recommend using a dedicated PDF Editor for Mac – PDF Expert. The application is available as both Paid & Free versions and has an intuitive dashboard to edit the PDF files, edit text, alter images

STEP 1- Download & install PDF Expert on your Mac.

STEP 2- Open the document and right-click where you want to place the signature.

STEP 3- Click the Signature option from the context menu.

STEP 4- You can hit the ‘My Signature' button to add the existing one or create one by clicking the Customer Signature option.

Save your digitally signed PDFs and share them!

Must-Read: Here Are Top 8 Methods To Compress PDF!

PART 4- How To Validate Digital Signature In PDF On Mac?

Whenever you receive a digitally signed PDF of a document, you may want to validate the signature to verify the authenticity of the signer and signed content. You can certainly validate the signature in PDF using ordinary PDF readers. For demonstration, we are using Adobe.

STEP 1- Open the signed PDF or document with Adobe.

STEP 2- From the left-panel, click on the Signatures option.

STEP 3- You have to hit the gray caret to launch the drop-down menu.

STEP 4- You'll be shown the validity of the signature done, along with details like time of signing, or if any modifications are done.

This is how you can validate digital signatures on Mac. If you have any queries while signing a PDF, you can shoot your problems and issues in the comments section below! Also, if you know any other quick and hassle-free workarounds to add electronic signatures to PDF or document, don't forget to share with us on our Social Media Platforms!