How to scan a document with your phone and save it as a PDF
You don’t need a scanner to send a readable copy of a document. A photo taken with your phone is enough – PDFowo detects the page, straightens the perspective, removes shadows and the grey background, then saves everything as a PDF that looks like it came from a scanner.
- Take a photo
On a phone use the “Take a photo with the camera” button; on a computer pick photos from your drive.
- Adjust the corners
The program finds the edges of the page by itself. If needed, correct the corners with your finger or the mouse.
- Choose a filter
Document (colour), greyscale, black and white or original.
- Download the PDF
Add more pages and save everything as one document.
How to take a good photo
- put the page on a dark, plain background
- shoot in good, even light – daylight is best
- hold the phone parallel to the page and don’t cast a shadow on it
- the whole page should fit in the frame
Which filter to choose
Black and white gives the smallest file and the best text readability, greyscale suits documents with stamps, and colour is best when coloured elements matter, e.g. signatures in blue pen.
Frequently asked questions
Are the photos uploaded anywhere?
No. All processing happens in the browser of your phone or computer.
How many pages can I scan into one PDF?
Up to 50 pages in one document. Change the order with the “Earlier” and “Later” buttons.
How do I make a scanned PDF smaller?
Choose the black and white filter or compress the finished file with the Compress PDF tool.