How to Extract Text from PDFs and Images Using AI OCR

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Many documents are stored as PDFs and images. Some PDFs contain selectable text, but scanned documents do not. If you need to edit or search within these documents, you must first convert them into text. This is where Optical Character Recognition (OCR) comes in.

OCR technology scans a document and extracts the text, turning images into editable content. In this guide, we will explain how to use AI-powered OCR to extract text from PDFs and images. We will also show you how to use Parsio to automate the process and convert documents into text, Markdown, or HTML.

What Is OCR and How Does It Work?

OCR is a technology that recognizes text in images and scanned documents. It works by analyzing the shapes of letters, numbers, and symbols, converting them into digital text.

Traditional OCR tools often struggle with low-quality scans, handwriting, or complex formatting. AI-powered OCR, however, improves accuracy by learning from different fonts, languages, and document types. It can also recognize tables and structured data, making it more versatile than basic OCR tools.

If you are interested in learning more about how AI improves document processing, check out our guide on How AI OCR Revolutionizes PDF Parsing and Data Extraction.

Why Extract Text from PDFs and Images?

Extracting text from documents makes them easier to edit, search, and analyze. Here are some common reasons to use OCR:

  • Edit scanned documents without manually retyping them.
  • Copy and paste text from locked PDFs.
  • Make documents searchable in digital archives.
  • Extract data from invoices, contracts, and reports automatically.
  • Digitize handwritten notes into an editable format.

OCR is also essential for automating document processing. Learn more in our article on Automated Data Extraction from PDFs: Benefits and Challenges.

Extracting Text with Parsio: Step-by-Step Guide

Parsio makes text extraction easy by offering an AI-powered OCR converter. Here’s how you can use it to extract text from PDFs and images.

Step 1: Create a Parsio Inbox and Select OCR Converter

  1. Log in to Parsio or sign up if you are new.
  2. Click Create Inbox and choose OCR Converter as the processing method.

Step 2: Import Your PDFs or Images

  1. Upload PDFs or images from your computer.
  2. Alternatively, set up email forwarding so that incoming attachments are automatically processed.
  3. Parsio will scan and extract text from the documents.

Step 3: Download the Converted Text

  1. Once processing is complete, you can download the extracted text.
  2. Choose from multiple formats:
    • Plain text (for simple editing)
    • Markdown (for structured formatting)
    • HTML (for web publishing)

If you also need to extract structured data, check out our guide on Extracting Data from PDFs Using AI.

PDF document extracted as plain text

Step 4: Extract Tables (Optional)

  1. If your document contains tables, Parsio can extract them separately.
  2. You can download tables in:
    • Excel (XLSX)
    • CSV
    • Markdown
    • Plain text

To learn more about table extraction, read Extracting Tables from PDFs with AI.

Step 5: Automate the Process (Optional)

If you process many documents regularly, Parsio allows automation through integrations.

  • Zapier, Make, and webhooks enable automatic text extraction and export to other apps.
  • Send extracted text directly to Google Sheets, Notion, databases, or cloud storage.

For a detailed guide, see How to Automate Data Extraction from PDFs and Emails to Salesforce.

Benefits of Using AI OCR for Text Extraction

Using an AI-powered OCR tool like Parsio offers many advantages:

  • Saves time – No need to manually retype documents.
  • Higher accuracy – AI improves recognition, even for complex fonts and low-quality scans.
  • Flexible formats – Extract text in multiple formats, including Markdown and HTML.
  • Automation-ready – Automatically process documents without manual effort.

Common Use Cases

OCR technology is widely used across different industries:

  • Business: Extract data from invoices, contracts, and reports.
  • Legal: Convert scanned legal documents into editable formats.
  • Education: Digitize textbooks, study notes, and research papers.
  • Writers: Convert scanned books or handwritten notes into text.
  • Finance: Extract tables and numbers from bank statements and reports.

For specific use cases, check out How to Convert PDF Bank Statements to Excel or CSV.

Conclusion

OCR helps convert scanned documents and images into editable text. AI-powered tools like Parsio make this process faster, more accurate, and automation-friendly.

With Parsio, you can extract text from PDFs and images, convert documents into Markdown or HTML, and even export tables to Excel. Whether you need a one-time conversion or a fully automated workflow, OCR can save time and improve efficiency.

Start using Parsio’s OCR converter today to extract text and tables from documents effortlessly.

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