How To Use Scanner App To OCR A PDF File

PDF files are one of the most flexible and valuable documents for work or study. However, it’s frustrating when you need to use a PDF document and suddenly find out you can’t copy, search, or edit.

Sometimes you receive a low-quality scanned PDF file where you can’t search for specific terms. You might also get a scanned PDF that doesn’t allow editing or easy copy-paste features. Fortunately, PDF OCR technology lets you create an editable PDF document quickly and easily. You don’t even need to buy a new scanner or connect to the Internet to do it.

This brief guide will explain how PDF OCR technology works, the different kinds of PDFs, and how to use easy OCR technology using Scanner App.

What Is OCR And Why Is It Helpful?

Short for ‘optical character recognition’, OCR technology lets you convert scanned documents into a text document you can edit. The most popular type of editable files are PDF documents due to being industry-standard.

A searchable PDF is a vital tool for research-intensive industries that require ongoing documentation. You can quickly find terms with a search tool or easily organize information into a larger database.

PDF OCR technology is helpful because it saves you time tediously retyping a physical document into a text-based file. With optical character recognition, you can get a few hours back into your workweek to put toward other tasks. If you’ve been frustrated needing to convert the following…

• Old brochures
• Printed manuals
• Handwritten contracts
• Research documents
• Legal documents

…you’re ready to start using an OCR tool designed with you in mind.

Some of today’s scanner technology lets you scan a physical document and transform it into an editable text document. However, if you don’t want to invest in a brand new scanner, you can just use OCR PDF technology straight from your phone.

What Are The Different Types Of PDFs?

Before we explore how to create scanned PDF documents from your iPhone or iPad, let’s look at the different types of PDFs. Choosing the right PDF document will also save you time scanning and organizing your files.

Encrypted PDF

Also known as a secured PDF document, this type will be password-protected. If you want to access it, you’ll have to ask the original sender.

Searchable PDF

A searchable PDF is ready to edit, allowing you to search for specific words, copy its contents, or make edits on-the-fly. This type of txt file is what you’re trying to get when using OCR PDF technology.

Image-Only PDF

Image files used to be challenging to convert into a scannable PDF document because you had to recreate them by hand. However, you can create a scanned PDF straight from your iPhone or iPad thanks to optical character recognition software.

How To OCR A PDF The Easy Way With Scanner App

We created Scanner App to give you an easy-to-use online OCR tool right at your fingertips. Instead of purchasing a brand new scanner or recreating scanned PDFs by hand, you’ll be able to create editable documents easily.

Step #1: Snap A Well-Lit Photo Of Your Document

When you’re ready to extract text and convert images the easy way, your first step is to take a photo of your document. Find a bright light source and make sure the photo is centered on your iPad or iPhone. If any of the photo is cut off, you won’t be able to convert the entire image file.

Even better, there’s no need for an Internet connection to make your scanned PDF searchable. Our Scanner App is functional no matter where you are.

Step #2: Choose Between Automatic Or Manual

Our app gives your iPhone or iPad the ability to recognize text as you see fit. The automatic mode will quickly snap a photo, while the manual mode will let you make minor adjustments to your capture.

Step #3: Use Scan Enhancement Features

There’s no need to transport your image files into an editing program to make a few adjustments. Our OCR tool makes it easy to do useful tasks such as:

• Edge correction
• Color correction
• Handwriting recognition

Step #4: Save Multiple Pages Or Integrate With Cloud Services

Do you need to send out multiple pages for your scanned PDF? Our tool not only lets you save several pages, you can quickly integrate with cloud services if you’re short on time.

Scanner App is compatible with mainstream cloud services such as:

• Dropbox
• iCloud
• Yandex Disk
• Google Drive
• OneDrive

Step #5: Enjoy Your Scanned Document And Do It All Over Again

Once you’ve snapped a clear photo, used scan enhancement features, and integrated with cloud services, you’re good to go. Scanner App makes it easy to recognize text and turn your scanned images into a PDF ready for editing.

You can also apply e-signatures for a truly all-in-one experience.

Try Scanner App Today For Your Scanned Documents

Trying to edit scanned documents should be easy. Thanks to PDF OCR technology in Scanner App, you don’t need expensive scanners or time-consuming writing sessions to extract text.

Our app provides high-quality image capture with automatic edge detection to ensure you extract text accurately and quickly. Our built-in image editing features and integration with mainstream cloud services save you time editing your PDF before sending it out. You don’t even need an Internet connection to get the job done.

Try our free three-day trial today and see what accessible PDF OCR technology looks like in the palm of your hand.