How OCR Works

Upload a scanned PDF, photo, or image. OCR reads the text from pixels and converts it to editable characters. Works with printed text in multiple languages. Handles low-quality scans, skewed pages, varied fonts.

Processing takes a few seconds per page. You get editable Word, searchable PDF, or plain text—depending on what you choose. The text can be searched, copied, edited. Scan quality affects accuracy: clear 300 DPI scans give 95%+ accuracy.

Why Use OCR?

Scanned documents are just images. You can't search them, copy text from them, or edit them. OCR turns images into actual text. Makes old paper archives searchable. Lets you extract data from scanned forms. Converts printed materials to editable files.

Essential for digitizing contracts, receipts, historical documents, book pages. Screen readers need actual text to read aloud—OCR makes scanned documents accessible. Saves hours versus manual retyping.

What Affects OCR Accuracy

Good scans give 95%+ accuracy: 300 DPI, high contrast (black text on white), straight pages, clear fonts. Poor scans reduce accuracy: blurry photos, faded text, skewed pages, unusual fonts. Handwriting is harder than printed text—expect mistakes.

Simple layouts work best: paragraphs, lists, basic tables. Complex layouts—multiple columns, text boxes, fancy formatting—may need manual cleanup after OCR. Always proofread OCR output before using it for important work.

Tips for Best Results

Scan at 300 DPI minimum. Ensure good contrast. Scan pages straight, not skewed. Use even lighting for photos—no shadows across text. Clear scans = accurate OCR.

Select the correct language before processing. After OCR, proofread the output—especially numbers, names, and technical terms. OCR makes mistakes. Check before you trust it.