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pdf2scan
Convert PDF to scanned document online

How to Make a PDF Look Scanned

Three steps and no software: upload the document, choose the settings, download the result. Below — the detailed walkthrough and answers to the questions people ask most.

🧷 Select binding type and optional settings, then upload your file — get a ready scan.

File
Select a PDF, Word file or photo
or drag and drop files here (up to 50)
Изображение из буфера: Ctrl+V (⌘V на Mac)
—
Free, no signup, no page limit.
Report a problem
Binding type
Options
Color mode
Quality
PDF/A format
Paper noise A slightly grey sheet, soft unevenness and rare dust specks, like a real scan. Not applied in B/W mode.
Crop to the sheet For a photo of a document the service finds the sheet itself, straightens the perspective and stretches it to the whole page. When the sheet is not recognised with confidence, the page is left as it is.
Recognize text (OCR) ⭐ subscribers The scan becomes searchable — copy and find text
Page numbers
Processing...
Done!
Your PDF has been processed and is ready to download.
⏱ Link active for 6 hours — download now
⬇ Download result

Измените параметры и снова нажмите «Обработать файл».

How pdf2scan works

1
Upload your file
PDF or Word — drag & drop or choose from device
2
Configure options
Binding type, color, quality, page numbers and more
3
Download the result
Your scanned PDF is ready to download for 6 hours

pdf2scan is an online tool to create raster PDFs with a scan effect. Completely free, no signup and no page limit. Thread, ribbon, corner, spiral and hole-punch binding; page numbering, title page, PDF/A.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Upload your PDF or Word file

    Drag the file into the form or pick it from your computer. PDF, DOC and DOCX are supported.

  2. Choose quality and options

    Colour, grayscale or black and white, page numbering, a title page, PDF/A — set what the receiving side expects.

  3. Download the scanned version

    Processing takes a few seconds. The result stays available for download for 6 hours.

Before you start

Finish editing your document and keep a copy of the original. PDF, DOC and DOCX files can be uploaded directly. For a Word file with complex layout, export it as PDF in Word first and check the page breaks.

For a photo, include the entire sheet in the frame and use an evenly lit, contrasting background. After selecting the photo, check the detected corners and adjust them manually if needed.

Settings to check in step 2

Choose colour to preserve coloured marks, grayscale for shades without colour, or black and white for plain text. Start with medium quality. Paper noise affects colour and grayscale output; it is not applied in black and white.

No binding produces a plain scan. If you select a binding style, title and certification sheets become available. Page numbering and PDF/A are separate options. OCR for searchable text requires a subscription.

After downloading

Open the PDF and check every page, especially small text, crop boundaries and stamps. If the file is too large, try lower quality or black and white and inspect the result again.

Save the PDF within six hours while the download link is available. Keep the original if you need editable text or a valid digital signature: rendering creates a new document.

FAQ

Do I need to print the document?
No. Upload the electronic file, choose the settings and download the PDF with a scanned appearance.
Which setting should I start with?
Start with medium quality and choose a colour mode based on the content. Use colour for coloured stamps or diagrams, and check the downloaded result.
Can I correct the photo crop?
Yes. After selecting a photo, check the preview and move the detected corners to match the sheet before processing.