graphic drawing component - ?

for LAMP

[httpwebwitch]

I'm searching for something I can put in an HTML form which allows the user to draw their signature. Something like a "pen" tool - sign inside the rectangle and press "Save". The result would be a JPG saved on the server, but I'm cool if the <form> just submits a collection of bezier points or something like that. My site is on a LAMP stack.

I'm thinking... JavaScript? Flash? Applet?

If you know of one that already exists, please point me in the right direction. Searching for "flash" and "pen" and similar words brings up gazillions of irrelevant results

[phranque]

just say "NO!"

you should keep in mind that without a proper user interface you won't get anything close to recognizable as a signature, let alone resembling my signature.
a mouse is designed for pointing, clicking and dragging, not for penmanship.
i use a trackman marble which is even worse for attempting script.

any clueless web designer who requires my "signature" to make a form acceptable gets the best looking "X" i can manage.
=8)

[tangor]

An ink interface appears possible for IE users (only) with tablets but requires Windows Forms and .net to work. Also appears to have some security issues. Sounds intriguing as a concept but can't envision how useful it might be. Those ink stations (electronic credit card systems) work in the B&M locations because the device is there and is secured over the internal network before presentation to a merchant center, but such devices are not generally available to most computer users.

[rocknbil]

I'm thinking... JavaScript? Flash?

GE uses both [imaginationcubed.com]. I'm pretty sure that link will be allowed, it's General Electric and it's been around for years.

Sorry that doesn't appear to be open source but I'm sure with sufficient digging around you can deconstruct it. :-)

[kaled]

Unless you have the software to validate the signature, collecting it in the first place is likely to be pointless (and validation is seriously tricky). There's a reason why passwords are used on the internet (not signatures) and this is it.

Unless you are writing an application for a specific group of people who already have pen input capability (e.g. meter readers or delivery personnel) then you should take another path.

Kaled.

[httpwebwitch]

yeah... the more I think about it, the more I realize it's a dumb idea. Thanks anyways :)