Create a PDF from a Scanner – Tutorial

Create a PDF from a Scanner: Video Lesson

            This video lesson, titled “Scanning into a PDF Document,” shows you how to create a PDF from a scanner. This video lesson is from our complete Acrobat XI training, titled “Mastering Acrobat Made Easy v.XI Pro.”

Create a PDF from a Scanner: Overview

            If you have a scanner connected to your computer, you can easily create a PDF from a scanner within the Acrobat application. To do this, place a paper document on your scanner bed and then select “File| Create| PDF from Scanner” from the Menu Bar in Acrobat XI. From the side menu that appears, choose a preset for your document, depending on whether you are scanning a black and white or greyscale document, a color document, or a color image. Advanced users can also access the “Custom Scan” and “Configure Presets” dialog boxes from this menu. The “Configure Presets” dialog box allows you to specify a number of options, including paper size, file size, single- or double-sided scanning, the addition of metadata, and the application of optical character recognition (OCR).

Create a PDF from a Scanner – Tutorial: A picture of a user selecting a scanner preset within Acrobat XI Pro.

            Once you select your preset, the scan occurs automatically, and you will be prompted to confirm that the scan is complete by clicking “OK.” The new PDF appears in Acrobat. Select “File| Save” to launch the “Save” dialog box and save your PDF.

            Acrobat does not automatically recognize every scanner. If you find that you cannot scan paper documents from within the application, refer to your scanner documentation for setup instructions and troubleshooting advice. Ensure you have the latest scanner drivers installed for your scanner, as well. You should also consider doing a web search for answers about using Acrobat with your specific scanner model.

Create a PDF from a Scanner: Instructions

1. To create a PDF from a scanner connected to your computer, place a document in your scanner bed and then select “File| Create| PDF from Scanner” from the Menu Bar in Acrobat XI.
2. From the side menu that appears, choose a preset for your document, depending on whether you are scanning a black and white or greyscale document, a color document, or a color image.
3. Advanced users can also access the “Custom Scan” and “Configure Presets” dialog boxes from this menu. The “Configure Presets” dialog box allows you to specify a number of options, including paper size, file size, single- or double-sided scanning, the addition of metadata, and the application of optical character recognition (OCR).
4. Once you select your preset, the scan occurs automatically, and you will be prompted to confirm that the scan is complete by clicking “OK.”
5. When the new PDF appears in Acrobat, select “File| Save” to launch the “Save” dialog box and save your PDF.