PNG to searchable PDF
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Compare free and paid accessConvert PNG scans to searchable PDF with AlphaPDF Premium. Keep the visible scan and add recognized text.
Create a PDF with the scan as its visible page and a searchable text layer. PNG preserves sharp edges without JPEG compression; crop unrelated borders before uploading and keep the full text in view.
OCR can misread small, faint or skewed characters. Search and copy a sample of the result to verify recognition; handwriting is best-effort.
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Output quality is under review. This tool is not currently recommended as a reason to purchase Pro. Check all output against the source.
What it does
This tool reads the text in a PNG image and gives it back as a searchable PDF. The page image stays exactly as it was and an invisible text layer is added behind it, so the PDF looks the same but can be searched and copied. PNG images are often screenshots or exports from a scanner. They keep sharp edges without the blur that JPEG compression adds, which helps recognition. Crop away borders and anything that is not part of the page.
When to use it
Pick this when you have page images saved as PNG, perhaps from a scanner app or a set of exported screenshots, and want a PDF you can search and share. The images stay as they are, so nothing about how the pages look changes, but a search for a word now finds it. That makes it a good fit for building a reference file out of loose images, filing scanned letters with a case, or sending pages to someone who expects a normal PDF rather than a folder of pictures.
How to use PNG to searchable PDF
- Sign in with an account that has Premium access.
- Upload .png files. Each file can be up to 50 MB, with up to 25 files per batch.
- Select the recognition languages and scan cleanup options. Review the available settings and choose a 1, 7 or 30-day retention period.
- Start the job, then download and check the result before its retention period ends.
Related conversion options
Before you start
OCR can misread small, faint or skewed characters. Search and copy a sample of the result to verify recognition; handwriting is best-effort.
Name your PNG files in page order before uploading, for example 01, 02, 03. It makes it much easier to keep pages in the right sequence when you put the results together. After the job finishes, open the PDF and try searching for a word you can see on the last page to confirm every image was read. Recognition is never perfect. Names, amounts and dates deserve a careful check, and handwriting is read on a best-effort basis. Select every language on the page so the right characters are expected.
Processing limits
Up to 50 MB per input; 25 files and 500 MB per batch. PDF limit: 2000 pages. Up to 2 active jobs per account. Output limit: 1000 MB. Renderer limits can reject especially large pages or images.
Example output
An inspected example is not available for this tool yet. Review the supported formats and limitations before processing.
Common questions
Does each PNG become a page?
Each image is recognised and turned into a searchable PDF page, keeping the picture exactly as it was.
Can I shrink the PDF afterwards?
PNG pages can make a large file. Open the result in the free Compress PDF tool if you need something smaller to email.
Can I upload a screenshot?
Yes. Screenshots of documents work well as long as the text is large enough to read comfortably on screen.
Does the page look different?
No. Only the hidden text layer is new. The visible page is your original image.