Scanning & OCR

How to Turn a Phone Photo of a Document into a PDF: A Step-by-Step Document Scanning Guide

The steps for turning document photos taken with your phone camera into a clean PDF that looks like it came out of a scanner, how to choose a filter, and the mistakes people commonly make.

Document Scanner, Image to PDF or Desktop Scanner? Which One, and When

Three ways of turning a document into a PDF compared: the document scanner with automatic correction, dropping the raw photo straight into a PDF, and a hardware scanner. A decision guide, scenario by scenario.

How Document Scanning Works Behind the Scenes: Edge Detection, Perspective Correction and Shadow Removal

The three image processing steps that turn a phone photo into a scanned document: contour-based edge detection, the four-point perspective transform, and shadow removal via a background map.

How to Split a Scanned Two-Page Spread in Half

The problem of two pages ending up on one sheet in book and magazine scans: choosing vertical or horizontal splitting, where the cut line falls, skewed scans, and page order after splitting.

The Two-Page Spread Problem in Book Scans: Why It Happens and What to Do

The technical reason two pages end up on one sheet in scanned books, how crop boxes (MediaBox/CropBox) work, and what splitting actually changes inside the file.

Split the Spread, Rescan, or Just Crop? Which Makes More Sense

Three ways to fix scanned book PDFs compared: splitting in half with software, rescanning the book, and getting by with cropping alone. Differences in time, quality and outcome.

How to Apply OCR to a Scanned PDF? A Step-by-Step Guide

Steps for applying OCR to make scanned PDFs searchable and copyable, tips for Turkish characters, and common mistakes to avoid — all in this guide.

Making Scanned PDFs Searchable: How Does OCR Work?

The logic, technology, and privacy side of adding a searchable text layer to scanned PDFs with OCR. A comprehensive guide, including Turkish character support.

Making a Scanned PDF Searchable: OCR, Manual Retyping, or Desktop Software?

Comparing methods for making a scanned PDF searchable: an OCR tool, manual retyping, or desktop software?

Making Scanned Archive Documents Searchable: A Step-by-Step OCR Guide

A guide to converting old PDFs scanned from paper archives into searchable text with OCR. Step-by-step process, practical tips, and common mistakes.

Making Scanned Archives Searchable: OCR or Retyping?

A guide to making scanned archive documents searchable with OCR: when OCR is actually needed, which method makes sense in which situation, and the criteria for deciding.

Making a Scanned Archive Searchable: Adding a Text Layer to PDFs with OCR

A comprehensive guide to converting old scanned archive documents into searchable PDFs with OCR: the technology, use cases, and privacy considerations.