Text scanning may be done using OCR technology (Optical Character Recognition) using any of our flatbed scanners. This technology will allow you to convert hardcopy pages into text documents you can modify or edit using a lab text application such as Word for Microsoft Office.

What scanners can I use for text scanning?

You can use one of the Small Flatbed scanners located in each labs or a Large Format Scanners located at select Lab locations.

How can I scan and edit text?

Use Adobe Acrobat Professional to scan text on both Windows and Mac.

How do I scan text with Acrobat Professional?

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro listed under Multimedia Applications on PC and Mac
  2. Go to File > Create > PDF from Scanner
  3. Choose "type" of document: B&W, Grayscale, Color document, Color image, etc.
  4. Make sure settings are correct:
    • Input: Make sure proper scanner is selected
    • Output: Make sure "New PDF Document" is selected
    • Document: Make sure "Make searchable (Run OCR)" is selected
  5. Click Scan
  6. Save your work to Work in Progress.

Can I scan text with Microsoft Word?

Text scanning is not available in Microsoft Word. Instead, you can use Acrobat Pro scan the document. See above.

Can I edit the text from my scan if it doesn't look right?

Yes, you can use any word processing program like Microsoft Word after you have saved your scan.