# Creation of an Envelope

Creating an envelope in emSigner is the process of packaging documents and defining how they will be signed from start to completion. emSigner supports **three signing flows** to accommodate different use cases:

* **Only I Will Sign** – for self-signing documents
* **I Will Sign with Others** – for documents where the sender is also a signer
* **Only Others Will Sign** – for documents signed solely by external recipients

**Envelope Creation Steps**

1. **Select the Signing Flow**\
   Choose one of the three supported flows based on who needs to sign the document:
   * *Only I Will Sign*: the sender signs the document themselves.
   * *I Will Sign with Others*: the sender and one or more additional recipients sign the document.
   * *Only Others Will Sign*: only external recipients sign; the sender does not sign.
2. **Upload Documents**\
   Upload one or more documents to be included in the envelope. All documents within the envelope follow the same workflow.
3. **Add Recipients**\
   Define recipients such as signers, approvers, or CC. For each recipient, configure identity details, role, and authentication method.
4. **Configure Signing Order**\
   Specify whether recipients sign **sequentially,** **in parallel, or hybrid**, based on business and approval requirements.
5. **Place Fields**\
   Add and assign fields (signature, initials, date, text, checkboxes, etc.) to the relevant recipients. Each recipient can only act on their assigned fields.
6. **Review and Send**\
   Review the envelope setup and send it for signing. emSigner notifies recipients and manages the signing process automatically.
7. **Track and Complete**\
   Track the envelope through its lifecycle—sent, viewed, signed, and completed. Once all required actions are completed, emSigner finalizes the documents with a secure audit trail.

This flexible envelope flow allows emSigner to support **self-signing, collaborative signing, and third-party signing scenarios**, both through the user interface and via APIs, while maintaining security, compliance, and traceability