JPEG is probably the most popular extension for storing and transferring images. Many users prefer this format for sending photographs by email or uploading them on social networks. The reasons are obvious: JPEG can be opened with even the most basic image viewer, provides small size and decent image quality.

The format is also used as output extension by many scanning and faxing devices. Using JPEG you can get a quick and small digital copy of a document. As this is a raster format, however, what you get is an image reproduction of the document. Not an actual text. This means scanned JPEG cannot be searched or edited. Depending on your area of work, this can be a considerable problem. For example, if you scan a certificate or an invoice that you need to make quick corrections to, the JPEG format will not be of much help.

With reaConverter’s latest edition, you can now convert scanned JPEG images with text into searchable and editable PDFs. This powerful converter uses an advanced technology called optical character recognition (OCR) to transform the scanned image of a text into an actual text. OCR uses shape and pattern detection to identify letters, words and non-textual data, such as table formatting or special figures. reaConverter lets you set the language in which you want this feature to operate, thus helping you obtain optimal results.

Install reaConverter

Load scanned images

Add one scanned JPEG or a group of them using reaConverter’s drag-and-drop tool. Pick them manually or load them automatically, according to size and extension, using the Advanced file select option.

Enable OCR

Go to the Menu button and then to Saving settings → Format saving settings → PDF

Check the box at the bottom, near Convert to searchable PDF in language. reaConverter lets you opt between 6 different language (English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch), for best results in rendering the text in the output PDF. You can also reach this window via a shortcut. Place the pointer on the PDF button placed in the Convert to area and then click the Settings icon that appears in its upper left corner.

Save the result

In the Saving settings tab, pick the location where you want to store the resulting PDFs. You can save them in the source folder, a subfolder or another location of your choice. Don’t forget to make sure the PDF button from the Convert to area is clicked.

And then just press Start!

Video Tutorial

Advanced users can use OCR feature from command line interface or DLL in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Do you a have a printed document and need to make a digital copy of it? Scanning is a quick option. Or an even quicker one is photographing it with your smartphone. In both cases, what you will get is an image of the text, most likely saved under a raster format, such as PNG, JPEG or TIFF. In fact, the latter is often preferred by scanning and faxing devices due to its good quality rendering of text.

But while being an accessible and flexible format, supporting both lossy and lossless compression, TIFF has one major disadvantage. Texts scanned under this format cannot be edited or searched. This might be a problem if, for example, you have a scanned book and need to look for a certain keyword. Or if you want to translate the scanned document via machine translation. The best solution in such cases is converting to a format that can be edited and searched — PDF.

reaConverter’s latest edition features optical character recognition (OCR) as part of the conversion process, allowing you to convert scanned TIFF images with text into searchable and editable PDFs. OCR is an advanced technology by which the software imitates how the human eye and brain work, recognizing certain patterns and characteristics in the input text and turning it into a searchable and editable digital copy. The feature is not limited to text, but also extends to recognizing formatting (columns, numbers, paragraphs etc.) and non-textual data, offering an accurate rendering of the input TIFF in the output PDF.

Install reaConverter

Load scanned images

Add one or more scanned TIFF images with text. Use the drag-and-drop tool, add entire folders or use the Advanced file select option, which allows you to automatically load files of a certain size and extension from a certain location.

Create searchable PDF in required language

Go to the Menu button and then to Saving settings → Format saving settings → PDF

Tick the box at the bottom of the window: Create searchable PDF in language. reaConverter lets you choose between 6 different language to perfect this feature.

Save the result

In the Saving options section, decide where you will save the output images — in a customized location, in the source folder or a subfolder. Finally, don’t forget to click the PDF button from the Convert to area, at the bottom of the reaConverter window.

If you place the pointer on this button and then on the Settings icon that appears in its upper left corner, you’ll get a shortcut to the Format saving settings window described in the previous step of this tutorial. Use it in case you want to customize your conversion using any of the available options, for example PDF security settings.

Then simply press Start!

Command-line Interface and Watch Folders

Batch image conversion into searchable and editable PDF can also be done via command-line or Watch Folders. In case you are a developer and want to include it in a custom software solution, reaConverter provides detailed steps of how this is done and a full list of configuration parameters here.

Quick cmd example:
cons_rcp.exe -s source.tiff -o output.pdf -create_searchable_pdf 1 -searchable_pdf_lang eng


Video Tutorial

Advanced users can use OCR feature from command line interface or DLL in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.