58 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
58 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Scanner Effect
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description: Make your PDF look like a scanned document with adjustable noise, rotation, blur, and paper aging effects.
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---
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# Scanner Effect
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Transform a clean digital PDF into something that looks like it came out of a flatbed scanner. The tool applies configurable noise, slight rotation, blur, brightness shifts, and optional yellowing to simulate the imperfections of a physical scan.
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## How It Works
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1. Upload your PDF file.
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2. The editor opens with a live preview of the first page alongside a settings panel.
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3. Adjust the scan effect parameters using the sliders and toggles.
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4. The preview updates in real time as you change settings.
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5. Click **Apply** to process all pages and download the result.
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## Options
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- **Colorspace (Grayscale toggle)** -- Convert the output to grayscale for a classic black-and-white scan look.
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- **Border** -- Add a subtle dark border around the page edges to mimic scanner border artifacts.
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- **Rotate** -- Apply a slight rotation (-5 to +5 degrees) to simulate misaligned paper feeding.
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- **Rotate Variance** -- Add random variation to the rotation angle so each page tilts slightly differently.
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- **Brightness** -- Shift the overall brightness up or down.
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- **Contrast** -- Adjust contrast to simulate toner quality variations.
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- **Blur** -- Apply Gaussian blur to soften text edges like a low-quality scan.
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- **Noise** -- Add random pixel noise to simulate scanner sensor grain. Higher values produce grainier results.
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- **Yellowish** -- Add a warm yellow tint to simulate aged or recycled paper.
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- **Resolution** -- Set the output DPI. Lower values create a more pixelated, scan-like appearance.
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- **Reset** -- Restore all settings to their defaults.
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## Features
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- Real-time preview that updates as you tweak each parameter
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- Per-page random rotation variance for realistic variation
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- Ten independently adjustable parameters
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- Grayscale mode for authentic black-and-white scan output
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- Resolution control from low-DPI fax quality to high-DPI archive quality
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## Use Cases
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- Making digitally created documents appear to have been scanned and printed
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- Simulating physical document aging for historical document recreation
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- Testing OCR software against degraded scan quality
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- Producing documents that match the visual style of existing scanned archives
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## Tips
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- Start with subtle values. A noise level of 10-20, a slight 0.5-degree rotation, and minimal blur already produce a convincing scan look.
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- Combine grayscale mode with slight yellowing for a "photocopy of a photocopy" effect.
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- Lower resolution settings (100-150 DPI) create the most realistic fax-machine appearance.
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## Related Tools
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- [Invert Colors](./invert-colors)
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- [Adjust Colors](./adjust-colors)
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- [Background Color](./background-color)
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