Make a PDF Look Scanned
Make a PDF look scanned without printing it first. The browser renders every page, applies a grayscale photocopier wash, fine grain, edge shading, and a seeded subtle tilt, then rebuilds a flattened image PDF at the original page size. Choose 96, 150, or 300 DPI and a subtle, medium, or strong effect. Text will no longer be selectable, output size may increase, and the original file stays on your device.
Choose files or drag & drop here
.pdf · single file
Processed locally in your browser — your files never leave your device.
How to pdf to Scanned
- Upload the PDF you want to make look like a scan.
- Pick an effect strength and, if you like, a resolution and seed for the grain pattern.
- Download the scanned-style PDF and flip through a few pages to check the look.
Verified behavior and practical limits
Last tested:
How it processes your file
The browser rasterizes each page, applies grayscale wash, grain, edge shading, and a seeded tilt, then embeds the result as an image at the original page size.
Verified behavior
- Offers 96, 150, and 300 DPI output.
- Provides subtle, medium, and strong effect levels.
- The same seed reproduces the same generated pattern.
Important limits
- Rasterization removes selectable text, links, forms, and editable vectors.
- Higher DPI can take longer and make the output larger; this effect is not a real physical scan.
Reproducible example workflow
- Input
- A two-page digitally generated form.
- Action
- Choose Medium at 150 DPI and keep the default seed.
- Expected output
- A flattened two-page PDF with a consistent photocopied appearance.
Continue the workflow
Frequently asked questions
Will the text stay selectable after the effect?
No. Pages are flattened to images during the effect, so text becomes part of the picture and is no longer selectable, searchable, or copyable after download.
Does this add OCR text or actually scan my file?
Neither. The tool only mimics the look of a scan — a gray wash, slight rotation, grain, and edge shading. It does not add OCR text and it will not sharpen a blurry or dark original.
How is this different from the old-paper effect?
The old-paper effect warms pages into sepia parchment. This one keeps a neutral photocopier gray with a subtle crooked tilt, which suits documents that should look like freshly scanned copies rather than aged originals.
Can I keep a multi-page document looking consistent?
Yes. The same intensity is applied to every page, and the same seed reproduces the same tilt and grain, so a multi-page file keeps a uniform scanned look.