3 Ways to Make a Document Look Scanned -Step by Step

In specific situations, there are requirements to submit documents with wet signatures or scanned PDF documents. But there is not always a scanner and you always need to print the document first, which undoubtedly wastes paper and ink.

But don’t worry, there are tools that can add noise, shadows, etc. to PDF to make the document look like a physical scan. This article will introduce you to 3 different tools to make a document look scanned and learn how to use them. Let’s take a look!

Make a Document Look Scanned Online Free

First of all, we would like to introduce the most convenient and fastest online method – OakPdf. OakPdf can electronically sign a PDF and imitate real paper, making your document look like it is scanned.

Simply upload your PDF and get high-quality results in seconds. All files uploaded to OakPdf and generated files are deleted from the server every 1 hour, absolutely protecting user privacy.

It can be said that OakPdf can turn your device into a perfect portable scanner anytime, anywhere.

Step 1. Visit OakPdf PDF Editor online.

Step 2. Click “Upload” to upload the document you want to make look like a scan. You can also choose to upload a document from Google Drive.

Step 3. If you need to add a “wet signature”, click “Signature” > You can choose “Via Image”, “Via Pad”, or “Add Text”.

Via Image: Upload an image and choose to extract the signature.

Via Pad: Sign directly and click “Done”.

Add Text: Add text directly and adjust the text size and font, etc.

Step 4. When you are done, click “Download” > Select “Imitate scanner (rasterize)” > Click “Download”, OakPdf will immediately download the “scanned” PDF document for you.

Make Document Look Scanned Using Adobe Photoshop

If the results provided by OakPdf are not satisfactory to you, then perhaps you need a more professional option. Adobe Photoshop is a good choice.

As a professional image processor, Photoshop can add texture, and noise, and customize transparency and contrast to the document to make it present the most realistic scanned state.

Step 1. Open Adobe Photo and import your digital document.

Step 2. Open Navigator > Add a new layer > Fill the new layer with white.

Step 3. Select the original layer and pull the dots on the four corners of the layer to slightly rotate the document to make it look more realistic.

Step 4. Create another new layer > Import “Grunge Texture” > Adjust the size so that it fills the entire screen > Lower the Opcity to make it more natural.

Step 5. Click “Filter” in the upper menu bar > Select “Noise” > “Add Noise” > Adjust the Amount > Click “OK” to make the document look like a scan.

Make Document Look Scanned Using Adobe Acrobat

In addition to Photoshop, Adobe also offers another professional option. Adobe Acrobat is a professional PDF editor that can not only read, edit, sign and fax PDFs, but also make documents look like scanned ones.

Although it can provide more professional and realistic results, you first need to upgrade to the paid version.

Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat > Click “Tools” on the menu bar > Select “Export PDF”.

Step 2. Open the document to be processed > Select “Image” > Select “TIFF” > Click “Export”.

Step 3. Click “Close” to return to the Tools menu > Click “Combine Files”.

Step 4. Click “Add Files” and add the TIFF files you just converted > Click “Combine” to combine them into a new PDF file.

Step 5. Select “Scan&OCR” from the right toolbar > Select “Enhance” > Select “camera image” and make adjustments > Finally click “Enhance Page”.

Step 6. Adjust the enhancement level > Finally click the “Save” icon in the upper left corner.

Conclusion

When you can’t scan a document, it is very necessary to know how to make the document look like a scanned document. It can help you complete some necessary requirements.

This article provides you with three different methods, including online & offline, free & paid. You can choose the most suitable one according to your needs.