Certificate seal maker
Design a serrated foil seal with a guilloché centre, your own text and optional ribbon tails, then download a transparent PNG to add to any certificate.
Where seals come from
Seals began as impressions pressed into wax or clay to prove a document came from its owner and had not been opened. Embossed foil seals replaced wax on diplomas and awards in the twentieth century, keeping the serrated "starburst" edge that came from the embossing die. The pattern in the middle of this seal is a guilloché rosette, the same looping line-work used on banknotes; you can see how it is drawn on the certificate borders page.
Placing a seal well
- Bottom centre between two signatures is the classic position; bottom left or right works with one signature.
- Size it at about 12–16% of the page's shorter side, roughly 1–1.4 in on Letter.
- Match the ribbon to your certificate's main colour and the foil to its accent.
Questions people ask
How do I add a seal to my certificate?
Download the transparent PNG and place it near the bottom centre, between the signatures, in Word, Docs or Canva. In the CertifyFast maker the seal is built in: tick "Gold seal" and type up to 14 characters.
What should the seal say?
Short labels read best: EXCELLENCE, AWARD, 1ST PLACE, CLASS OF 2026, APPROVED, or your organisation's initials.
Can I use a digital seal instead of a real foil sticker?
Yes. A printed seal looks good on its own. For extra shine, print the certificate without a seal and apply an embossed gold foil sticker from an office-supply shop.
Is a seal legally required on a certificate?
No, not for awards and recognition certificates. Official seals matter for notarised or government documents, which you should not imitate.