How do I make a scanned check image searchable in Acrobat?

First, open your scanned check image in Acrobat. Go to 'All tools' and select 'Scan & OCR'. Choose 'In this file', then set the page range and language. Click 'Recognize Text' to add a searchable text layer. This lets you find words in the check image later.

What is the difference between an image-only PDF and a searchable PDF?

Feature Image-Only PDF Searchable PDF. Content Type Just a picture of the document Picture of the document with a hidden text layer Searchable No, you cannot search for words Yes, you can search for words and copy text Created By Direct scan or photo Image-only PDF processed with OCR

Capture Check Image in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Verify and capture checks and endorsed signatures: scan each check front and back into editable…+

Verify and capture checks and endorsed signatures: scan each check front and back into editable PDF, run text recognition so MICR and amounts are searchable, and save the files in the day's deposit folder for posting.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before I post deposits, make check scans reliable for operations: OCR the MICR and written…+

Before I post deposits, make check scans reliable for operations: OCR the MICR and written amount, create a one-page cover showing account and deposit [id], highlight endorsements that look incomplete for follow-up, and export the set as a single searchable file for posting.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the scanned PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Go to the Tools menu.
3
Select Scan & OCR from the tools list.
4
Click Recognize Text and choose In This File.
5
In the settings panel, ensure PDF Output Style is set to Searchable Image.
6
Click Recognize to start the OCR process.
7
Save the PDF after OCR is complete.
Best practiceFor best OCR accuracy, scan your documents at 300 dpi and ensure the images are clear before running OCR.

In the appWith the API

After OCR completes, you can search, copy, and highlight text in your previously scanned PDF.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

OCROCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is technology that turns images of text into real text you can search and copy.ExampleAfter scanning a paper invoice, OCR allows you to copy the vendor's name from the image.

DPIDPI means dots per inch, and it tells you how clear an image is when it is scanned.ExampleA scanned photo saved at 300 DPI will usually contain more detail than the same photo at 72 DPI.

Searchable LayerA hidden layer of text added to an image-based PDF, allowing you to search for words within the document.ExampleThe hidden searchable layer in the scanned contract allowed us to find specific clauses.

Who does this

3 roles

ArchivistResearch LibrarianRecords Manager

FAQ

about this task

First, open your scanned check image in Acrobat.
Go to 'All tools' and select 'Scan & OCR'.
Choose 'In this file', then set the page range and language.
Click 'Recognize Text' to add a searchable text layer. This lets you find words in the check image later.

Recognizing text in a scanned PDF means converting image-based text into actual, selectable text. This is important because it makes your scanned documents searchable and allows you to copy text from them. It helps with archiving and finding information quickly.

If your scanned check image is blurry, the text recognition (OCR) might not work well. OCR needs clear text to convert it accurately. For the best results, always scan documents at a high quality, like 300 dpi. If the scan is too blurry, the text might be recognized incorrectly or not at all, making it hard to search or copy.

It is important to select the correct language before recognizing text because OCR technology uses language-specific rules and dictionaries. If you choose the wrong language, the recognition process will make many mistakes. This will result in poor accuracy, and the text layer will not be useful for searching or copying.

Feature	Image-Only PDF	Searchable PDF
Content Type	Just a picture of the document	Picture of the document with a hidden text layer
Searchable	No, you cannot search for words	Yes, you can search for words and copy text
Created By	Direct scan or photo	Image-only PDF processed with OCR

Capture Check Image

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails