Top 10 Best OCR Software for Mac for Easily Converting Images to Text January 4, 2013, There are times that you may need to copy or edit texts from a scanned document or a PDF file. However, this is not possible as these files are considered images. The texts cannot be selected, edited or copied. So you need to manually type them, which can be time consuming. But this is no longer the case.
You can use an OCR software for Mac to automatically convert an image to a text file. Here are some of the programs that you can use. ABBYY FineReader Express Edition for Mac This program offers several features that make conversion and editing of PDF, scanned and image files easier.
Even documents or files taken using a digital camera can be converted using FineReader. It offers high conversion accuracy as it does not just scans on the texts of the document, but also the images and tables. If you need to have the exact copy of the file but just needs to edit some of the texts; that will not be a problem with this software.
It supports 171 languages so it can recognize the words even if they are not written in English. Aside from the option to convert the file into a word document, you also have the option to convert it into a spreadsheet, HTML or searchable PDF file. All of these can be done in just one click. You don’t have to worry about accidentally saving the changes you made as it keeps a copy of the original file. DevonThink Pro Office DevonThink Pro Office is a document management program that offers easy way to organize all your files. This will make job easier for you as it will be faster to check on the documents you wish to find, as well as create a back up copy. It also has an OCR feature, which converts a scanned document into a text file.
It actually uses ABBYY FineReader for converting the scanned files. If you need a program that can help organize your documents while enjoying the convenience of an OCR program, this software is for you.
ReadIris 12 ReadIris 12 is an accurate OCR software for Mac that can convert images or PDF files into editable text. It supports conversion to over 30 formats including Word Document, Excel, HTM, e-mail and more.
This can be done in just one click of the mouse. Conversion is fast so you don’t have to wait for several minutes to get the converted file. It’s easy to use because of its user friendly interface. Furthermore, it allows you to immediately upload the files to any cloud including Google Docs and Dropbox so you can access them anywhere, anytime as long as you are connected to the Internet. VelOCRaptor With the simplicity of its interface, you can quickly learn how to use this program. It does not require complicated steps to convert a scanned document into an editable PDF file.
In fact, a simple drag and drop of the scanned file is all you need to have it converted. The software then scans and analyzes the document and converts it to text. You have the option to save it into a PDF file or you may also copy the texts and save them on a Word file or other word processing programs you wish to use. It works with most scanners so you should not have a problem when it comes to scanning files. Adobe Acrobat 8 and Up Adobe Acrobat 8 and up come with a built in OCR feature that you can use to convert a scanned image into a searchable PDF file. Aside from the ability to search texts once the file is converted, it is also possible to copy them so you can save them on other applications including Excel, Word or e-mail. The conversion can be done while the document is being scanned or by using an already scanned image.
To convert a file that you are about to scan, open Adobe Acrobat, click File, choose Create PDF then select From Scanner. The Acrobat Scan window will appear. Click the box next to Make Searchable (Run OCR) to put a check mark and click Scan.
If you have a scanned image saved on your computer, open Adobe Acrobat, click File, choose Create PDF then select From File. Open the scanned image, then click Document, OCR Text Recognition then Recognize Text Using OCR.
Evernote While Evernote is mainly used for organizing files like images, notes, PDF and other data, it also comes with an OCR feature. If you do not have a premium account, the OCR feature can be limited to extracting text files from images that you save on Evernote. They are useful for easily searching specific pictures on your files. However, if you have a premium account, you will be able to run OCR on PDF files making the texts searchable and editable. VueScan This is mainly a program that is used for scanning as it supports more than 1850 scanners. If you cannot find the driver of your scanner or it is no longer supported by the manufacturer, you can still use it by installing VueScan on your computer.
Scanned files can be saved in different formats including TIFF, JPEG and PDF. Make the file searchable by using its OCR feature. As a beginner, you can use the Guide Me mode for help on the step by step process of using the program.
When you have familiarized yourself with its use, you can try the Advanced mode and have access to more options. PDFPen PDFPen converts PDF files into searchable and editable format.
Aside from editing or copying the texts, you can also add images on the original file itself. When copying to another application, the format will be kept. Furthermore, it allows conversion of scanned images into text.
Nuance OmniPage Depending on your needs, there is an Omnipage version that will work best for you. If you are a professional and you need to use it for your job, you can get Omnipage Professional 18. If running a company, Omnipage Enterprise is the best option. For personal use, you can go with Omnipage Standard 18. It offers fast and accurate conversion and supports 123 languages.
It keeps the format of the converted files and recognizes not only the texts, but other elements on the file like tables, forms and images. Prizmo This programs offers scanning, OCR, image enhancement, as well as the ability to share files on the Cloud network. Whether it is a scanned file or a picture, convert it to text file so you can easily copy or edit the text. It supports more than 40 languages so you can be assured that conversion is more accurate. Choose from any of the OCR software for Mac you would like to install on your computer. Converting scanned and PDF files into text will be faster and easier by using one of these programs.
6 Responses. PDF Studio Pro is an affordable alternative to Adobe Acrobat on the Mac.
Version 8 added an OCR function. Give it a try. There is a free demo version available for evaluation. The software runs on Mac, Windows and Linux and one license key allows to install the software on up to 2 machines regardless of the operating system.
Paris Page OCRKit? It is is cheap (got it for $40 in the AppStore) and it works great, got much better recognition results than Prismo,. Ilya Strelkov Recently ABBYY has updated their OCR software for Mac.
Now you can get Professional version of their OCR for the old price of Express ($99.99). May The 10 free OCR software you suggest are great for me.
I heard of them before, but I did not use it. I am using Yunmai Document Recognition, a document reader developed by Yunmai Technology. It is able to extract the text from an image of a document, and then save it as text file. This software is a demo of Yunmai Document Recognition OCR SDK. The average time for recognition of a document less than 6 seconds. The recognition accuracy can reach 99%.
朱燕华 Thanks for your suggestions. They are helpful for me. When choosing OCR software, I always think about the recognition accuracy and recognition speed. As I know, Yunmai Technology is also very professional on OCR technology. Yunmai Document Recognition is really great for me.
The average time for recognition of a document less than 6 seconds. The recognition accuracy can reach 99%. It can convert documents into PDF, Word, Text format files. JRyder Thanks for this roundup although this article is a bit dated now. There are now plenty of very accurate OCR software for Mac. Here’s a few of them if it helps anyone.
Omnipage Pro 6.0 Ocr Software For Mac Mac
Optical Character Recognition During your foray into the world of document scanning, you've probably come across the term ' OCR'. You may even know that it stands for ' Optical Character Recognition'. But what is OCR, really, and what do you need to know about it to make the best use of this sophisticated and valuable tool? We're here to give you a run-down on Optical Character Recognition, answer any questions you might have, and recommend the best OCR software for your scanning project. The primary purpose of Optical Character Recognition is to quickly and automatically convert scanned images of machine-printed (typed) text - which to a computer are no more meaningful a collection of pixels than any other image, such as a landscape photo - into actual text data that you can search through and modify. The exact mechanics of this process are complicated, but suffice to say that an OCR engine will look at pixel data and search for patterns resembling letters, numbers, and other symbols and create a digitized record of these symbols. Types of OCR There are two major types of Optical Character Recognition.
Full Page OCR - Converts the entire page into one of the below mentioned formats:. Plain Text - Only basic text information on the page is retained in a consecutive order. Formatted Text - Text information is retained in consecutive paragraphs, saving font size and style. This can also conserve tables in a tabular format, such as spreadsheets.
Exact Copy - All information on the page is retained, including graphics, and placed on the page in such as way as to most closely recreate the original document. Searchable File - Text information is retained on a hidden layer behind the scanned, image, allowing the file to be searched while retaining the appearance of the original. Zone OCR - Recognizes strings of text located on particular areas of the page. This is usually for the purpose of indexing and document management. The information can be used to name a file, save it to a particular location, or archive particular pieces of data into an organized format, such as a database. Levels of OCR Software OCR Software comes in, which vary in price range based on their features, speed, and accuracy.
For instance, you can get a freeware such as that will serve in a pinch, but it will only be able to convert BMP, JPG, and TIF images of English or French text into plain text documents of TXT or DOC format, one page at a time. On the other hand, you can invest a few hundred dollars in a or even software that will be able to watch particular folders for incoming documents in a variety of image formats and languages, then automatically recreate exact copies of all of the pages therein in a format of choice. You can also find software, which will bridge the price gap and include many of the features of the Corporate editions but still require some user input during conversion. Improving Accuracy Although some OCR engines are better than others, no software can guarantee 100% accuracy. This is because there are other factors in play, including scan quality. Recognition software will not be able to do its work if the scanner is not properly digitizing the page.
It is recommended to scan at a resolution of 300dpi for best results. Black & White (Bitonal) is preferred over Greyscale or Color modes, and although most modern scanners are fairly well configured out of the box, you may want to adjust your Brightness and Contrast settings for your particular documents. If you do not have a scanner that has the necessary speed, quality, or other features that you require to scan your documents, you can always find a!
ScanStore even has a handy to help you find the perfect scanner for your specific requirements and price range. Limitations of OCR OCR software is also limited in what it is able to recognize.
Most OCR software are only designed to recognize machine printed text, as opposed to handwriting. While there are that can recognize handwritten information, they tend to be enterprise level solutions for forms processing work, rather than full page recognition. Similarly, most OCR software are only able to convert traditional machine fonts, not cursive scripts or calligraphy.
There are many fonts out there, and OCR engines depend on common, separated letter shapes to recognize the text, so fonts that are unusual or flow together will not be recognized. The main features that differentiate OCR software are:. Character recognition accuracy. Page layout reconstruction accuracy.
Support for languages. User interface design. Output file formats (Word, Excel, PDF, eBook, etc.). OCR speed and support for multi-core CPUs.
Batch processing modes. Advanced PDF encryption or compression. Special features for niche projects Because of the infinite combinations of document types, OCR engines, project requirements and special features, it may be possible that one engine will perform better with your particular documents than another. Use our handy to determine which OCR program best meets your requirements. Provides demo downloads for most with your if you prefer to try before you buy.
OCR Software Categories The is divided into the following categories:. And The Winner Is. The OCR experts at have tested the latest versions of, and and we consider the best overall value for business users, while is the best OCR software for under $150. The key deciding factors were:. User interface design. Page layout reconstruction capabilities.
Extensive language support. Engine stability when processing large files.
Availability and quality of technical support Though other testing labs have ranked OmniPage's overall accuracy slightly higher, we find the difference is nearly negligible. All modern OCR software has very good accuracy, so we recommend going with the one that has particular special features like 's CardIRIS, 's camera OCR and screenshot reader, or 's form data collection, auto-redaction and barcode filing capabilities.
If you would like to try them out yourself, ScanStore offers free demo downloads for. Nuance does not provide demos for its OCR products. Businesses with many documents to process should use our with the FineReader OCR engine to scan and large batches of documents. And can also be used to sort and file documents into folders, databases. SimpleIndex combines with powerful pattern matching features to extract useful data from OCR text and use it to file documents automatically. Perfect for small to mid-sized businesses that need to digitize many documents at once. Also supports other labor-saving technologies like,.
OCR results can be saved to text, MS Word or searchable PDF and PDF/A files. Data can be saved to CSV (Excel), embedded in folders and filenames or used as file. Affordable desktop and server licensing with no pay-per-click makes SimpleIndex the most cost effective software of its kind!