Creating Documents

This guide covers the draft stage of the document lifecycle: upload the PDF, add recipients, place fields, and prepare the document to be sent.

Start a new draft

1. Open Documents
2. Click Create Document
3. Enter a document name
4. Upload a PDF

Papyrus opens the editor immediately after upload.

File requirements

• PDF only
• Up to 10 MB per upload

Choose a document name that will still make sense later in search results, audit trails, and email subject lines.

Add recipients

Every draft needs the right people attached before it can be sent.

Signers

Signers need:

• A name
• An email address

Each signer gets a unique color in the editor so their fields are easy to spot.

CC recipients

CC recipients do not sign. They receive the completed PDF after the document is finished.

Signing order

Choose the signing model that fits your workflow:

• Parallel when everyone can sign at the same time
• Sequential when signer B should not be invited until signer A finishes

Use sequential signing for approval chains, countersignatures, and similar handoff-based flows.

Place fields

Fields tell Papyrus what each signer must complete.

Common field types

Field workflow

1. Drag or place a field on the PDF
2. Assign it to the correct signer
3. Resize or reposition it
4. Mark it required or optional when appropriate
5. Save the field layout

Papyrus will not let you send a document with unassigned fields.

Review document settings

Before sending, make sure the draft has:

• The correct recipients
• The correct signing order
• Every required field assigned
• A document name that recipients will understand

You can also prepare:

• A custom email subject
• A custom message body
• Reminder settings for this specific document

Those delivery settings are explained in more detail in Sending for Signature.

Edit while the document is still a draft

Draft documents are fully editable. You can:

• Rename the document
• Add or remove recipients
• Change signing order
• Move, resize, or delete fields
• Save the layout as a template

Once a document is sent, the draft is locked. If you need to change the signed version later, void it and start a new document.

Understand document status

Find documents later

The documents list supports:

• Search by document name, recipient name, or recipient email
• Status filtering
• Sorting by created date, name, or status

This matters when your team is managing many active documents at once.

Automate the same flow

If you want to create drafts from your own app instead of the dashboard, the usual pattern is:

1. Build a reusable Template
2. Create documents from that template through the API
3. Decide whether Papyrus sends the email or your app embeds signing

See API Authentication for the workflow overview and the API Reference for the exact create and read operations.

Where to go next

• Sending for Signature - sending, reminders, and completion
• Templates - turn repeated layouts into reusable building blocks
• API Authentication - automate document creation
• API Reference - inspect exact request and response schemas