Make a PDF Look Scanned
Turn a digital PDF into one that looks like it went through a scanner, with tilt, grain and toner, without printing anything.
What does PDF to Scanned do?
Some offices, banks and portals still expect documents that look printed, signed and scanned. Printing and rescanning takes time and needs a scanner. This tool makes a PDF look scanned in a few seconds.
Each page is turned into an image and given the imperfections of a real scan: a slightly crooked page, a little blur, paper grain, stronger toner contrast and, if you like, a yellowed paper tint or a grayscale look. You can preview the effect live and adjust every setting before you download the scanned PDF.
How to use it
- 1
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop a PDF into the box above, or click Select PDF file. It's processed in your browser and isn't uploaded.
- 2
Choose the scan look
Pick a style, or adjust tilt, blur, grain, contrast, paper tint and resolution. The preview updates as you change the settings.
- 3
Download the scanned PDF
Click Make it look scanned. Every page is converted and you download a PDF that looks like a paper scan.
Why use it
No printer or scanner
Get a realistic scanned document without printing, scanning or photographing pages.
Realistic and adjustable
Random tilt per page, grain and toner contrast make the result look like a real scan, and every effect can be tuned.
Private and fast
Conversion runs in your browser, so signed contracts and IDs never leave your device and there's no upload to wait for.
Supported files and limits
- Supported format: PDF.
- Free accounts: files up to 50 MB. PDFSimplified Pro: files up to 200 MB.
- The result is an image-only PDF, like a real scan: text can no longer be selected or searched.
- Higher resolutions look sharper but create larger files. 150 DPI is a good balance for most documents.
- PDFs that need a password to open must be unlocked first.
Privacy and file handling
Your PDF is converted entirely in your browser and is never uploaded to our servers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a PDF look scanned?
Upload the PDF above, choose a style or adjust the settings while watching the preview, then click Make it look scanned and download the result.
Can I make it look scanned without a scanner?
Yes. The tool adds the typical artefacts of a scan, such as a slight tilt, blur, grain and contrast, so you don't need to print or scan anything.
Can I still select text in the scanned PDF?
No. Like a real scan, each page becomes an image, so the text can't be selected, copied or searched.
Why is the scanned PDF larger than the original?
Pages are stored as images instead of text and vector graphics. Lower the resolution to 100 or 150 DPI for a smaller file.
Will a signature I added still be visible?
Yes. Everything visible on the page, including signatures and stamps, is kept in the scanned image.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The conversion happens in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.