Saving Scanned Documents as a Searchable PDF

You can scan a document and save the text in a searchable PDF. In a searchable PDF, text is recognized using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and then embedded in the scanned original.
Note: The required Epson Scan 2 OCR Component is installed automatically when you install your scanner software as instructed on the Start Here sheet. If you install your scanner software programs individually, be sure to also install the components if you want to perform OCR.
  1. If you are scanning using the ADF, slide the mode selector to ADF. If you are scanning using the card slot, slide the mode selector to card.
  2. Load your original in the scanner.
  3. Start Epson Scan 2.
  4. Select your scan settings.
  5. Click Preview and adjust the area you want to scan, if necessary.
  6. Reload the ejected original in the scanner.
  7. Select Searchable PDF as the Image Format setting.
  8. Select Options from the Image Format list. You see the Image Format Options window.


  9. Select the Text tab.
  10. Make sure the language used in the document text is selected as the Text Language setting.
  11. Click OK.
  12. Confirm the File Name setting and select a Folder setting for your document.
  13. Click Scan. The scanned image is saved as a searchable PDF.
Parent topic: Scanning Special Projects