TIFF to searchable PDF
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Compare free and paid accessConvert TIFF 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. TIFF may contain multiple frames. Check the resulting page count and reading order against the source document.
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 TIFF file 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. TIFF is common in document archives and fax systems. One TIFF can hold several pages, and each page is read in order, so check that the page count in the result matches the file.
When to use it
Pick this to turn archived TIFF scans into searchable PDFs that open on any device. Many offices and scanning services stored documents as TIFF years ago, and most people now expect PDF. Converting keeps the scanned page as it was while adding search, which makes old files far easier to find, share and attach to email. It also means colleagues no longer need a special TIFF viewer to flip through a multi-page record, because every PDF reader can open the result.
How to use TIFF to searchable PDF
- Sign in with an account that has Premium access.
- Upload .tif, .tiff 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.
Convert a handful of files from each archive batch first and look at the results before sending the rest. Scanning settings often changed over the years, so an older batch may need a different approach. Keep the original TIFFs until you are happy with the PDFs. 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
Do multi-page TIFFs become one PDF?
Yes. Every frame in the TIFF becomes a page of the same PDF, in order.
Is TIFF compression a problem?
Common TIFF compression types are read without trouble. Very old or unusual files may need to be exported again from the archive software first.
Are multi-page TIFFs supported?
Yes. Every page in the file is recognised, in the order it appears.
Does the page look different?
No. Only the hidden text layer is new. The visible page is your original image.