How to Make Your PDFs Look Scanned with Scanned Maker

Sometimes you need a digital document to look like it was physically scanned. Whether for professional submissions, authenticity, or organizational requirements, Scanned Maker makes this simple and private—all processing happens directly in your browser.

Why Make Documents Look Scanned?

• Professional requirements - Legal and official submissions often need scanned appearance
• Enhanced authenticity - Scanned documents carry credibility for agreements and forms
• Document security - Harder to edit, adding protection against unauthorized changes
• Consistent archiving - Uniform look across document collections

What is Scanned Maker?

Scanned Maker is a free, browser-based tool that transforms digital PDFs into realistic scanned documents while keeping your files completely private.

Key features:

• 100% browser-based - no uploads, no servers
• Privacy-first - all processing happens locally
• Works offline after first load
• Fast real-time previews
• Completely free

Quick Start Guide

1. Access Scanned Maker

Visit scannedmaker.com in any modern browser (desktop, tablet, or mobile).

2. Upload Your File

Drag and drop your file or click to browse. Supports:

• PDF documents
• Images (JPG, PNG, WEBP)
• Office files (DOCX, XLSX)
• Text formats (TXT, MD, HTML)

3. Customize Scan Effects

Basic Settings:

• Colorspace - Grayscale for traditional scans, color to maintain original
• Border - Add scanner edge appearance
• Rotation - Slight angle mimics imperfect scanner placement (1-3° recommended)
• Brightness/Contrast - Balance readability with texture

Texture & Quality:

• Blur - Gentle blur reduces digital sharpness
• Noise - Paper-like grain for authenticity
• Yellowish Tint - Simulate aged paper
• Resolution - 300 DPI for print, 150 DPI for digital sharing

4. Preview & Adjust

Use the real-time preview to check:

• Text readability
• Natural rotation
• Border placement
• Overall appearance

5. Download

Click download when satisfied. Your scanned PDF is ready immediately.

Tips for Best Results

For professional documents:

• Use grayscale mode
• Apply minimal rotation (0.5-1°)
• Keep blur low
• Add subtle noise
• Use 300 DPI

For quick sharing:

• Use 150 DPI
• Maintain color if original is colorful
• Minimize rotation for screen reading

For archival look:

• Enable yellowish tint
• Moderate noise level
• Slight blur
• Lower contrast

Privacy & Security

Why Scanned Maker is safe:

• No file uploads to servers
• No tracking or analytics
• No accounts required
• All processing happens locally on your device

Your documents never leave your computer, making Scanned Maker perfect for sensitive files. Learn more about how browser-based PDF processing protects your privacy.

Common Use Cases

Need specific guidance for your situation? Check out our detailed guide covering 10 real-world use cases including:

• Legal document submissions
• Contract preparation
• Academic submissions
• Business archiving
• Personal document preservation

Troubleshooting

File too large? Lower DPI, reduce noise, or use grayscale

Text not readable? Reduce blur, increase contrast, use higher DPI

Looks too digital? Add rotation variance, increase noise, apply gentle blur

Border cuts content? Reduce border thickness or rotation angle

Get Started

Transform your digital PDFs into authentic scanned documents today.

Visit scannedmaker.com and start creating professional scanned PDFs in minutes.