Scan with iPhone: Turn Your Device into a Powerful Scanner

Discover how to instantly turn your iPhone into a scanner and scan with your iPhone. Our step-by-step guide details the quick and straightforward process of scanning documents, whether you’re using the native Notes app or exploring advanced scanning applications. Expect practical advice on everything from initiating a new scan to sharing your digital documents.

Key Takeaways

• Your iPhone can be used as a mobile scanner using the in-built document scanner feature within the Notes app, introduced with iOS 11 in 2017.

• The Notes app’s scanner has Auto and Manual modes, editing tools for cropping and color adjustments, and the ability to sign documents directly on the device.

• Scanned documents can be exported in various formats, shared instantly, and integrated with workflow management apps like Trello and Evernote for enhanced productivity.

Unlocking Your iPhone’s Scanning Capabilities

Imagine this: you’re at a meeting, and someone hands you a critical document. You need to keep a copy, but there’s no scanner in sight and a photo is just not going to cut it. Fear not! Your iPhone comes to the rescue with its inbuilt document scanner, tucked away in the Notes app.

While we absolutely do recommend you use a standalone scanner app, this article mainly concerns the built-in option, the Notes app.

Introduced in iOS 11 in 2017, this feature has been a game-changer, turning your device into a mobile scanner app.

Start a New Scan in Seconds

Scanning a document is incredibly simple. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Notes app and create a new note.
2. Click the camera icon.
3. Choose ‘Scan Documents’.
4. Your scanning process begins.
5. In no time, your new scan is underway.

Choose Scan Documents with Ease

With the scan initiated, it’s time to capture the document. Here’s how:

1. Place the document within the frame of your camera.
2. Tap on ‘Camera’.
3. Select ‘Scan Documents’.
4. The camera will capture an image of your document.
5. Save the scanned document directly within the Notes app.
6. You can also share the scanned document using the sharing options available.

Isn’t it incredibly easy?

Save and Organize Scans Effectively

Immediately after scanning a document, you have the option to:

• Save it
• Fine-tune the corners of the scan to properly fit your document before saving
• Change the color scheme of your document before saving it
• Add additional pages if you’re scanning a multi-page document before finalizing the save process.

Now you have your organized and neatly scanned document right at your fingertips, making it easier to manage your paper documents.

The Magic of Auto Mode

Scanning a document should not feel like rocket science. This is where Auto mode shines, significantly simplifying the scanning process by automatically recognizing the edges of a document within your camera’s field of view.

Capture Perfect Scans Automatically

1. Position the document within your camera’s view
2. Let Auto mode do the work
3. Your device will automatically scan the document when it’s properly positioned

Manually Capture for Precision

Editing Tools for Your Scanned Documents

Once you’ve captured your scan, the next step is to enhance it. Scanning apps offer editing features that empower you to modify your documents by trimming and rotating them to your preference. You can further polish your scanned documents by applying filter effects to achieve the desired visual appeal.

Let’s delve deeper into these editing tools and how you can make the most of them.

Fine-Tune with Crop Tool and Color Options

A well-aligned scan can significantly enhance the end result. Here are some tips to improve your scan:

1. Reposition the corners for a perfect alignment.
2. Use the crop features to straighten and apply perspective corrections.
3. Use the color adjustment features to enhance readability, such as the pre-set color schemes available in the editing tools.

You can also apply filters to change the color of your scans and enhance the overall resolution. Now your scan is not just a scan; it’s a fine-tuned, professional document.

Sign with a Tap

Signing a scanned document is as straightforward as a screen tap. Here’s how to do it with tap markup:

1. Hit the Share button
2. Choose Markup
3. Use an existing signature or create a new one by tapping the Add button and selecting the Signature option
4. Once signed, adjust the size of the signature box
5. Place the signature box precisely on the scanned document.

Now you can sign your documents with a tap, anywhere, anytime, and tap save for easy access later.

Share Your Scanned Documents Instantly

Scanned a document and want to share it? No problem. You can share your scanned documents instantly through built-in iOS applications or third-party document workflow solutions.

Let’s explore how you can do this in the following subsections.

Using the Share Button

Sharing your scanned documents is just a button tap away. The Notes app on your iPhone, equipped with a native scanning feature, enables you to share your scans directly using the Share button. You can even add your scanned documents to emails by using this feature.

Tap the Share button within the Notes app and share directly to other apps on your iPhone.

Export Options: PDF or Image

When it comes to exporting your scanned documents, you have options. You can save your scans in various formats such as:

• PDF

• JPG

• DOC

• XLS

• PPT

• TXT

This is beneficial for use in productivity apps like Evernote or Trello. However, you need to make a post-scan choice for the export format as the iPhone’s native scanner does not automatically convert scans into PDFs.

Add Additional Scans to Existing Documents

Adding more scans to existing documents is a piece of cake. You can include extra pages to a previously scanned document by using a particular function in the scanner app, which allows you to scan additional pages for multiple scans.

Let’s delve into how you can do this in the following subsections.

Scan More Pages with a Single Tap

Wish to include more pages in your scanned document? A single tap can do the trick. Use the camera icon in the Notes app to add consecutive scans to the note you’re working on. No need to start a new document for each page.

Organize Multiple Pages Easily

Organizing multiple pages within the same document is a breeze. Scanning applications provide various tools that enable you to manage the order and organization of multiple pages. These management tools typically include options to rearrange, add, or delete pages within a document.

Regularly organizing scanned documents helps to ensure that important information can be found quickly and efficiently when you need to scan a document.

Advanced Document Scanning Apps for iPhone

Though the integrated scanner in the Notes app is quite handy, there are sophisticated document scanning apps available for your iPhone that boast unique features and superior functionality. Apps like Scanner Pro are designed to handle text documents effectively and offer features like creating smart workflows to automate repetitive actions.

Let’s get to know more about these advanced apps in the following subsections.

Discover Popular Scanner Apps

Scanner App and Adobe Scan are some of the popular apps among iPhone users. Adobe Scan mobile app converts scanned documents to PDF files and offers storage in a free cloud service. It also includes optical character recognition and automatically crops and brightens scans to produce high-quality PDFs.

Scanner App, known for its outstanding scan quality and effective OCR results, is recognized for its straightforward design and reliable text recognition.

Comparison of Free vs. Premium Features

In the realm of scanning apps, grasping the distinction between free and premium features is vital. While the free version of Adobe Scan offers basic OCR features, it supports a limited number of OCR languages. Premium features of Scanner App include advanced file organization, templates for naming files, PDF markup tools, and automatic cloud uploads.

Integrating Scanned Documents with Other Apps

Scanned documents need not remain isolated. You can merge your scanned documents with other apps for enhanced productivity and collaboration. Workflow management apps like Trello and Evernote can significantly streamline project management and collaboration efforts when integrated with scanned documents.

Let’s see how you can do this in the following subsections.

Attach Scans to Emails Directly

Attaching a scanned document to an email is a breeze. All you need to do is open the Mail app, compose a new email, and use the attachment icon to initiate the insertion of a scan.

Locate the scanned document within your iPhone’s photo library or file storage, and attach it to the email using either the share or attach feature available within the email application.

Enhance Productivity with Scanned Files

The integration of scanned documents into workflow management apps can notably boost productivity. Within Trello, the Evernote Power-Up feature enables users to attach Evernote notes that contain scanned documents to Trello cards, effectively merging note-taking and task management.

OCR technology further enhances productivity by converting scanned text into editable formats, facilitating easy export and integration of content into different applications.

Summary

In a nutshell, your iPhone is not just a smartphone; it’s a powerful document scanner waiting to be unlocked. With the Notes app, you can scan documents easily and effectively. Auto mode simplifies the scanning process, while editing tools enable you to fine-tune your documents. You can also share your scanned documents instantly, add additional scans to existing documents, and even integrate your scanned documents with other apps for improved productivity. It’s time to unleash the full potential of your iPhone and transform your document handling experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a new scan on my iPhone?

To start a new scan on your iPhone, open the Notes app, create a new note, and tap on the camera icon. Then select ‘Scan Documents’ to begin scanning.

How can I fine-tune my scanned documents?

To fine-tune your scanned documents, adjust the corners and color scheme before saving, and apply filters to enhance resolution.

Can I add more pages to my scanned document?

Yes, you can add more pages to your scanned document by tapping the camera icon in the Notes app.

What are some popular scanning apps for iPhone?

Two popular scanning apps for iPhone are Adobe Scan and Scanner App, both offering unique features and enhanced functionality.

How can I integrate my scanned documents with other apps?

You can easily integrate your scanned documents with workflow management apps like Trello and Evernote, allowing you to attach them to cards and notes for improved productivity and collaboration.