How to Search Text Inside an Image in a PDF Using OCR
Question details
The user needs to find and search for text that is embedded inside an image or a scanned PDF document.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to locate specific information using the search function in a PDF that contains image-based text.
- Observed behavior
- Text embedded in a scanned image is not searchable because the document treats the letters as graphic shapes until converted.
Verify that your scanned image is clear and high-contrast, as OCR works best on clean documents without complex background graphics.
Use Adobe Acrobat's Recognize Text Feature
Apply Adobe Acrobat's built-in OCR tool to convert the image elements into selectable and searchable text.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) analyzes the shapes of letters in a graphic and translates them into machine-readable text. Using a professional PDF editor with OCR capabilities is the most reliable way to make scanned documents searchable.
Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF file containing the unsearchable image text.
Navigate to the right-hand pane and click on 'Scan & OCR'. If you do not see it, go to 'Tools' at the top left and select 'Scan & OCR'.
Click on 'Recognize Text' in the toolbar and select 'In This File' from the drop-down menu.
Select your document's primary language. Click the 'Recognize Text' button to start the conversion process.
Once the OCR process is complete, press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) to open the search bar and type the word you are looking for.
Easily Make PDFs Searchable with WPS Office
WPS Office PDF includes a highly accurate, built-in OCR feature that instantly converts scanned documents and image-based PDFs into searchable, selectable, and editable text formats.
- 1. Open the scanned file in WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your image-based PDF document.
- 2. Select the OCR tool: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and click the 'OCR' icon.
- 3. Choose OCR mode: Select 'Extract Text' or 'Convert to Editable PDF' depending on whether you want a plain text output or a fully searchable PDF.
- 4. Start recognition: Set the document language and click 'Start' to let WPS process the image.
- 5. Search your document: Press Ctrl+F to open the find tool and seamlessly search for any text within the newly converted document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my PDF text still unsearchable after using OCR?
This usually occurs if the original scanned image is blurry, has poor lighting, or lacks contrast. OCR relies on clear visual inputs to identify characters. Try enhancing or sharpening the image before running the OCR tool again.
Can I search for text in just a specific area of an image?
Yes, some advanced OCR applications allow you to define or draw a specific text area. This prevents the software from attempting to process complex surrounding graphics, which speeds up the process and improves accuracy.
Does OCR technology work with handwritten text?
Standard OCR is primarily optimized for printed or typed text. While some advanced AI-driven tools can interpret handwriting, the accuracy is generally much lower than with standard digital fonts.
How do I change the language settings for OCR recognition?
Before you start the text recognition process, most PDF editors (including WPS Office and Adobe Acrobat) display a settings or gear icon next to the 'Recognize Text' button. Click this to select the correct language present in your document.
