Five Apps: Utilities for converting paper documents to PDF
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Converting paper documents to PDF
This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.
If you have a lot of paper documents laying around, itrnmay be helpful to be able to scan those documents and save them as PDF files.rnPDF files take up less space than paper documents, and they can make it easy tornsearch for specific information. Here are five utilities forrnconverting paper documents to PDF.
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1. Soda PDF 6
Soda PDF 6 is a full-blown PDF editor that also includes scanning capabilities. The utility is divided into a series of modules, each of which deliver different functionality. The installer allows you to pick and choose the modules that you want to install. It costs $39.00 (USD), but a free trial version is available for download.
Soda PDF 6 View tab
Soda PDF allows you to scan and perform optical character recognition on paper documents, but it also offers the ability to edit existing PDFs.
Soda PDF 6 Create tab
With Soda PDF 6, you can batch import files.
Soda PDF 6 Edit tab
Soda PDF 6 is able to save PDF files to alternate formats, such as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, HTML files, TXT files, or even images.
Soda PDF 6 OCR
Soda PDF 6 even offers a OCR Module.
2. Softi Scan to PDF
Softi Scan to PDF is a simple utility for scanning paper documents and converting them to PDFrnfiles. rnThe utility offers a cleanrnand simple interface that allows for control over color and resolution, butrnit lacks any of the features of a full-blown PDF editor. Softi Scan to PDF costs $29.95 (USD), but a free trial is available for download.
Softi Scan to PDF brightness settings
You can easily change the brightness settings with Softi Scan to PDF.
Softi Scan to PDF DPI settings
With Softi Scan to PDF, you can easily change the DPI settings.
Softi Scan to PDF color settings
Here you see the color settings for Softi Scan to PDF.
Softi Scan to PDF Settings
Scan to PDF Settings for Softi Scan to PDF.
3. Advanced Scan to PDF Free
Advanced Scan to PDF Free is a free tool for converting paper documents to PDF format. When installing Advanced Scan to PDF Free, be sure tornperform the custom installation. Otherwise, the software will install arntoolbar, change your browser home page, and change your search provider, inrnaddition to installing other software.
Advanced Scan to PDF Free scan feature
Here you can see the Scan to PDF/JPG to PDF tab.
Advanced Scan to PDF Free Compression
One of the software’s mainrnfeatures is its ability to specify compression type.
Advanced Scan to PDF Free Paper Size
Another mainrnfeature is its ability to specify paper size. There are also a number ofrnfeatures that can be used to adjust the image size and positioning.
Advanced Scan to PDF Free Tools
The software even has thernability to add password protection and a digital signature to documents thatrnyou create.
Advanced Scan to PDF Free Help
The Help tab in Advanced Scan to PDF Free.
4. Readiris Pro
Readiris Pro is a utility that is designed to scan paper documents and convert them to PDFs,rnMicrosoft Office documents, or even e-mail messages. It costs $129.00 (USD), but a free trial is available for download.
Readiris Pro image file formats
The software can alsorncreate documents from a variety of image file formats.
Readiris Pro Zones
The Zones tab in Readiris Pro.
Readiris Pro Page tab
The software offers arnvariety of document controls, such as the ability to rotate and adjust pages, plus the ability to delete blank pages.
Readiris Pro Cloud Setup
In addition, Readiris has a cloud setup function throughrnwhich the software can be linked to cloud providers such as SkyDrive orrnDropbox.
Readiris Pro View tab
Here you can see the Readiris Pro options under the View tab.
5. SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR
SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR is a utility for scanning documents and converting them to PDF format. It costs $295.00 (USD), but a free trial is available for download.
SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR File
In addition to the basic image conversionrnprocess, SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR also performs optical character recognitionrnin order to make the documents searchable.
SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR Edit
The Edit options in SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR.
SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR View
The View options in SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR.
SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR Options
The program offers a number of Options that give you control of everything from document formatting to mouse functionality.
SolarSys DocScan Pro OCR Language
Thernsoftware even supports the installation of additional languages.
