Scan to Text
How to Extract Text from Scanned Images with Aspose.OCR

How to Extract Text from Scanned Images with Aspose.OCR

Scanning contracts, agreements, book pages, or old records usually produces image files—not editable text. Aspose.OCR Scan to Text for .NET lets you automate the extraction of structured, searchable text from any scanned document or photo, saving countless hours of manual entry.

Real-World Problem

Paper documents, books, and archives are often stored as images. Extracting their content for digital workflows, compliance, or research can be slow, costly, and prone to error if done manually.

Solution Overview

Aspose.OCR Scan to Text for .NET converts images of printed pages into usable text, handling single-column, multi-column, and complex layouts. The workflow is perfect for digitizing contracts, books, records, and business documents for modern use.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have:

  1. Visual Studio 2019 or later
  2. .NET 6.0 or later (or .NET Framework 4.6.2+)
  3. Aspose.OCR for .NET from NuGet
  4. Basic C# knowledge
PM> Install-Package Aspose.OCR

Step-by-Step Implementation

Step 1: Install and Configure Aspose.OCR

Add the NuGet package and reference Aspose.OCR:

using Aspose.OCR;

Step 2: Add Your Scanned Images

Load single or multiple image files to be processed.

OcrInput input = new OcrInput(InputType.SingleImage);
input.Add("contract_page1.png");
input.Add("agreement_page2.jpg");

Step 3: Configure Recognition Settings

Tune for document language and layout as needed.

RecognitionSettings settings = new RecognitionSettings();
settings.Language = Language.English;
// For complex or multi-column layouts:
settings.DetectAreasMode = DetectAreasMode.DOCUMENT;

Step 4: Run the Recognition Process 

AsposeOcr ocr = new AsposeOcr();
List<RecognitionResult> results = ocr.Recognize(input, settings);

Step 5: Save or Process the Extracted Text 

foreach (RecognitionResult result in results)
{
    Console.WriteLine(result.RecognitionText);
    result.Save("scanned_text.txt", SaveFormat.Text);
    // Save to Word or PDF as needed
    result.Save("scanned_text.docx", SaveFormat.Docx);
    result.Save("scanned_text.pdf", SaveFormat.Pdf);
}

Step 6: Add Error Handling 

try
{
    AsposeOcr ocr = new AsposeOcr();
    List<RecognitionResult> results = ocr.Recognize(input, settings);
    // Use results...
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}

Step 7: Optimize for Document Layouts

  • For books or articles, use DetectAreasMode.DOCUMENT or try DetectAreasMode.AUTO
  • Preprocess images (crop, deskew) for best accuracy
  • Batch process for large archives
foreach (string file in Directory.GetFiles("./scans", "*.jpg"))
{
    input.Add(file);
}

Step 8: Complete Example 

using Aspose.OCR;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        try
        {
            OcrInput input = new OcrInput(InputType.SingleImage);
            input.Add("contract_page1.png");
            input.Add("agreement_page2.jpg");

            RecognitionSettings settings = new RecognitionSettings();
            settings.Language = Language.English;
            settings.DetectAreasMode = DetectAreasMode.DOCUMENT;

            AsposeOcr ocr = new AsposeOcr();
            List<RecognitionResult> results = ocr.Recognize(input, settings);

            foreach (RecognitionResult result in results)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(result.RecognitionText);
                result.Save("scanned_text.txt", SaveFormat.Text);
                result.Save("scanned_text.docx", SaveFormat.Docx);
                result.Save("scanned_text.pdf", SaveFormat.Pdf);
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
        }
    }
}

Use Cases and Applications

Contract and Agreement Digitization

Quickly digitize legal or business documents for search, archiving, and digital workflows.

Book and Archive Processing

Convert book pages or historical records into searchable, editable formats.

Compliance and Data Extraction

Enable automated compliance checks, auditing, or text extraction from legacy documents.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Low-Quality Scans or Faded Text

Solution: Use pre-processing or enhance images for better OCR accuracy.

Challenge 2: Multi-Column or Complex Layouts

Solution: Adjust DetectAreasMode and test for best layout handling.

Challenge 3: Batch Digitization

Solution: Use batch processing and resource management for large-scale jobs.

Performance Considerations

  • Batch process for speed and scalability
  • Use good quality source images
  • Dispose OCR objects after use

Best Practices

  1. Always validate extracted text before automation or archiving
  2. Use correct recognition settings for document type
  3. Backup original scans for reference
  4. Test OCR results on a sample batch before production

Advanced Scenarios

Scenario 1: Multi-Language Document Extraction 

settings.Language = Language.French;

Scenario 2: Export to JSON for Integration 

foreach (RecognitionResult result in results)
{
    result.Save("scanned_text.json", SaveFormat.Json);
}

Conclusion

Aspose.OCR Scan to Text for .NET is the fastest way to convert scanned images and paper documents into usable, editable text—ideal for legal, academic, or enterprise projects.

See more examples and technical details in the Aspose.OCR for .NET API Reference .

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