Guide · Velvet Ring
How to make a scanned PDF searchable (OCR) on Windows
A scanned PDF is just pictures of pages – you can't search it or copy from it. Drag it, hold Shift and drop it on OCR: Velvet recognises the text and saves a searchable copy, right on your PC.
The usual ways – and their catch
- Copying text from the screen. Windows can grab text from a screenshot, but only what's visible – one piece at a time, and the PDF stays unsearchable.
- Online OCR services. You upload scanned contracts, bills and letters to someone else's server.
- Typing it out. Fine for one sentence, not for ten pages.
Turn a scan into a PDF you can search – the quick way with Velvet
- Start dragging the scanned PDF and hold Shift. Move outward to the outer ring.
- Drop it on OCR. Velvet reads every page with the text recognition built into Windows.
- Done. A searchable copy appears next to the original – Ctrl+F works and you can copy text.
Just need the text? Copy text puts all the text of the PDF on your clipboard – paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V. It works for photos of documents too.
Questions
Does it look different?
No. The pages look exactly the same – the text is added invisibly behind them.
Which languages work?
The languages installed in Windows.
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. Text recognition runs on your PC.
Why can't I select text in my PDF?
It's probably a scan – pictures of pages, not text. OCR adds the text so you can select and search it.
How do I copy text from a scanned PDF?
Drop it on Copy text – all the text goes to your clipboard.
How do I convert a scanned PDF to Word?
Run OCR first, then drop the searchable copy on To Word.
How to OCR a PDF?
Drop it on OCR – a searchable copy appears next to it.
How to make a PDF searchable?
Run OCR on it, then Ctrl+F finds the words.
Try Velvet Ring in your browser
No install – sign a sample contract, stamp it or blur a number plate right on this site. Velvet is a small Windows app with 40+ actions like this one.