Use OCR PDF when you need to make scanned PDF pages searchable with local English OCR. This guide follows a concrete workflow: search a five-page scanned statement. Keep your source file so you can compare the result and repeat the conversion with different settings.
Work through the example
- Upload a scanned PDF with no more than five pages.
- Process it and allow the local English OCR model to recognize the page images.
- Download the searchable PDF and test searches for words you can see on the page.
Understand the output
Up to 5 pages, 20 MB. Downloads the OCR engine on demand. Retains a rendered page image with a searchable text layer; proofread OCR.
OCR recognizes shapes rather than understanding the document. Blur, skew, glare and low contrast can change a digit or miss a line. Use a clear, upright source and verify names, account numbers and amounts manually.
Save and share carefully
The tool link is shareable; your uploaded document is not included in that link. Download the finished file before closing the tab. Reset clears the workspace. You can save the tool to Favorites to return to the same workflow later.
Browse the ERITHRA Blog for related tutorials or return to OCR PDF.