Have you ever tried to copy text from a scanned PDF only to find it doesn't work? That's because scanned PDFs are actually images. OCR technology can convert them into searchable, editable text.
What is OCR?
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is technology that recognizes text within images and converts it to machine-readable text. It's like teaching a computer to read.
When you scan a document, your scanner creates an image of the page - essentially a photograph. OCR analyzes this image, identifies the letters and words, and converts them to actual text data.
Why Do You Need OCR?
Without OCR, scanned PDFs are just pictures. With OCR, you can:
- Search: Find specific words or phrases within the document
- Copy text: Select and copy content for use elsewhere
- Edit: Make changes to the text content
- Accessibility: Enable screen readers for visually impaired users
- Archive: Create searchable document archives
- Data extraction: Pull information for databases or spreadsheets
Extract Text from PDFs
Use our free OCR tool to make scanned documents searchable and editable.
OCR PDF Free âHow Does OCR Work?
Modern OCR follows these steps:
- Image preprocessing: Adjust contrast, remove noise, straighten the image
- Text detection: Identify areas containing text vs images or blank space
- Character recognition: Analyze each character using pattern matching and AI
- Word formation: Group characters into words using language dictionaries
- Output generation: Create searchable text layer or export as editable text
Types of OCR Output
Searchable PDF
The original image is preserved, with an invisible text layer added behind it. The document looks exactly the same, but you can search and select text.
Best for: Archiving documents where preserving appearance matters.
Plain Text
Just the extracted text without formatting. Can be pasted into any application.
Best for: Extracting content for further processing or editing.
Editable Document
Exported as Word or other editable format, attempting to preserve formatting.
Best for: Documents you need to edit extensively.
Tips for Better OCR Results
1. Use High-Quality Scans
Scan at 300 DPI or higher for best results. Higher resolution gives OCR more detail to work with.
2. Ensure Good Contrast
Dark text on white background works best. Colored or patterned backgrounds can confuse OCR software.
3. Straighten the Document
Skewed or rotated text is harder to recognize. Make sure pages are properly aligned when scanning.
4. Clean the Scanner Glass
Dust, smudges, or scratches on the scanner can appear as marks that interfere with text recognition.
5. Use the Right Language Setting
If available, specify the document language to improve recognition accuracy.
đĄ Pro Tip
For handwritten documents or poor quality scans, AI-powered OCR services typically perform better than traditional OCR software.
OCR Accuracy
Modern OCR can achieve 99%+ accuracy for:
- Clean printed text
- Common fonts
- Standard layouts
- High-resolution images
Accuracy may be lower for:
- Handwritten text
- Decorative or unusual fonts
- Poor quality or low-resolution scans
- Complex layouts with columns or tables
- Text over images or colored backgrounds
Common OCR Use Cases
Digitizing Paper Archives
Convert years of paper documents into searchable digital files. Find any document in seconds instead of searching through boxes.
Processing Invoices & Receipts
Extract data from invoices for accounting software. Automate expense tracking by extracting receipt information.
Legal Document Discovery
Search through thousands of scanned legal documents to find relevant cases or specific terms.
Accessibility Compliance
Make documents accessible to screen readers for visually impaired users, meeting ADA and WCAG requirements.
OCR vs PDF to Word Conversion
| Feature | OCR | PDF to Word |
|---|---|---|
| Works on scanned docs | â Yes | â No (needs OCR first) |
| Works on digital PDFs | â Yes (but unnecessary) | â Yes |
| Preserves formatting | â ī¸ Limited | â Better |
| Creates searchable PDF | â Yes | â No |
FAQ
Is OCR 100% accurate?
No OCR is perfect. Even the best OCR may have occasional errors, especially with unusual fonts or poor quality scans. Always review important documents.
Can OCR read handwriting?
Some advanced OCR can recognize neat handwriting, but accuracy varies greatly. Printed text is always recognized more reliably.
Does OCR work on photos?
Yes, OCR can extract text from photos (like pictures of signs, books, or whiteboards), though quality depends on image clarity.
Is my document secure during OCR?
With Desi PDF, your documents are processed securely and deleted after processing. Check privacy policies when using any online OCR service.