How to make PDF look scanned?

Use PDFtoSCAN to apply realistic effects like noise, blur, and rotation to your digital PDF, making it look like it came from a physical scanner. Upload your file, adjust tilt and noise, and download your scanned-style PDF.

Can I convert PDF to scanned online?

Yes. Our PDF to scanned PDF converter is free, secure, and works in your browser. Upload your PDF or image, choose options (color or black & white, tilt, noise, A4), and download the result. No sign-up required.

Yes. Files are sent to our server for processing and are not stored after conversion. We do not keep copies of your documents. For maximum privacy, use the tool only for non-sensitive files or consider self-hosting.

Can I edit the text after scanning?

No, and that's the point. The process flattens your document into images, making the text uneditable. This is great for security and preventing unwanted changes to contracts, invoices, or submissions.

What's the difference between scanned PDF and regular PDF?

A scanned PDF is image-based with visual imperfections like noise and tilt, while a regular PDF often contains editable text and vector graphics. When you make PDF look scanned, you convert clean digital files into realistic scanned documents that appear physically processed.

Can I make PDF look like scanned documents for free?

Yes. PDFtoSCAN is completely free with unlimited conversions. No signup, no watermarks on the output, no hidden fees. Upload, adjust options, and download your scanned-style PDF.

Can I force A4 size for my document?

Yes. Enable "Force A4 size" to fit your content onto an A4 page with a scan-style dirty black background in the margins. Ideal when the recipient expects A4 or when merging with other scanned documents.

What file types can I convert to scanned look?

You can upload PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, or WebP. The output is always a PDF with a scanned appearance. Multi-page PDFs are supported.

PDFtoSCAN – Kora PDF n'amafoto nk'aho yasanzwe kuri interineti

Umwanditsi w'ikirenga | Cam Scanner | Injira | Ururimi

Hindura PDF n'amafoto kuba inyandiko z'umwuga nk'aho zasanzwe ukoresheje ukanda rumwe.

Ohereza PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF canke WebP. Wakire PDF nk'aho yasanzwe ifite gutengana, urutoki rwirabura n'urusaku.

📄 Kurura dosiye hano canke kanda guhitamo PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, WebP

Amahitamo y'ikirenga

Ibikurikizwa

Ibara Umukara n'uruhondo

Page tilt (degrees)

0°

Noise amount

10%

Visible edges (dirty black background around the page)

Force A4 size (fit output to A4 page)

Convert digital PDFs to realistic scanned documents

Transform your digital PDFs into authentic scanned documents with PDFtoSCAN. Whether you need to make PDF look scanned for legal submissions, create documents that appear physically scanned, or flatten PDFs to prevent editing, our free PDF to scan tool delivers professional results. Add realistic effects like noise, tilt, and paper-style edges—no physical scanner required.

Authentic scan effect PDF

Apply realistic scanner effects to make your document look scanned naturally. Add noise, blur, rotation, and visible edges—just like a real office scanner. Perfect for creating scanned PDF files that pass visual inspection.

Batch PDF to scan processing

Process entire multi-page documents at once. Apply consistent scan effects across all pages to save time while maintaining quality. Support for PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, and WebP.

Flatten & lock PDFs

Convert editable PDFs into flattened image-based files. Prevent copying, pasting, or editing of your contracts and invoices after you make PDF look scanned. Ideal for securing terms and submissions.

No sign-up, privacy-focused

Free tool with no registration required. Files are processed on our server and not stored after conversion. Use it for legal, financial, or personal documents with confidence.

When you need to make PDF look scanned

From legal compliance to security, here's when converting PDF to scanned format makes sense:

Perfect for

Legal and government submissions that require scanned-looking documents
Flattening contracts and NDAs to prevent unauthorized editing
Archiving digital records with a consistent scanned aesthetic
Satisfying wet-signature or scanned-document requirements for banks
Bypassing the need for bulky physical scanners
Creating scanned-look PDF files for insurance claims
Converting digital invoices to scanned format for accounting systems
Making documents look physically processed for submissions

How to make a PDF look scanned online

Upload your document or image and choose options: add a slight page tilt, scan-style noise, and a dirty black background around the edges. You can export in color or black and white, and force A4 size for a consistent scanned-document look. The result is a new PDF that looks like it was scanned on a flatbed scanner.

Supported formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, WebP

Convert a PDF to scanned look, or turn a photo (JPG, PNG, WebP) or a TIFF image into a scanned-style PDF. Ideal for making digital documents look like physical scans, adding a realistic scan effect to images, or creating A4-sized scanned-style PDFs for submissions.

Why use a scanned-look PDF?

A PDF that looks scanned is useful when you need to submit a document that appears to be a physical scan: add scan effect to PDF online, make an image look like a scanned document, or get a dirty background and slight tilt for a more authentic look. Free tool, no registration.

Frequently asked questions

How to make PDF look scanned?: Use PDFtoSCAN to apply realistic effects like noise, blur, and rotation to your digital PDF, making it look like it came from a physical scanner. Upload your file, adjust tilt and noise, and download your scanned-style PDF.
Can I convert PDF to scanned online?: Yes. Our PDF to scanned PDF converter is free, secure, and works in your browser. Upload your PDF or image, choose options (color or black & white, tilt, noise, A4), and download the result. No sign-up required.
Is my data safe?: Yes. Files are sent to our server for processing and are not stored after conversion. We do not keep copies of your documents. For maximum privacy, use the tool only for non-sensitive files or consider self-hosting.
Can I edit the text after scanning?: No, and that's the point. The process flattens your document into images, making the text uneditable. This is great for security and preventing unwanted changes to contracts, invoices, or submissions.
What's the difference between scanned PDF and regular PDF?: A scanned PDF is image-based with visual imperfections like noise and tilt, while a regular PDF often contains editable text and vector graphics. When you make PDF look scanned, you convert clean digital files into realistic scanned documents that appear physically processed.
Can I make PDF look like scanned documents for free?: Yes. PDFtoSCAN is completely free with unlimited conversions. No signup, no watermarks on the output, no hidden fees. Upload, adjust options, and download your scanned-style PDF.
Can I force A4 size for my document?: Yes. Enable "Force A4 size" to fit your content onto an A4 page with a scan-style dirty black background in the margins. Ideal when the recipient expects A4 or when merging with other scanned documents.
What file types can I convert to scanned look?: You can upload PDF, JPG, PNG, TIFF, or WebP. The output is always a PDF with a scanned appearance. Multi-page PDFs are supported.