Scan Clean, Sharp, Multi-Page Documents with CamScanner for iOS and Android

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The versatility of smartphones has enabled them to replace a wide variety of older, lesser machines, including portable cameras, GPS units, handheld gaming consoles, and more. Modern mobile devices are used by everyone from individual freelancers to large, established companies to help them work more efficiently and collaborate more easily. As deskphones, calculators, and other obsolete devices disappear, you can’t help but wonder when that giant, hulking office scanner and that shrieking fax machine will finally get replaced by something smaller, easier, and better. Would it surprise you to learn that an inexpensive iPhone app can replace both at the same time? CamScanner is essentially a scanner and a fax machine that fits in your pocket. Whether you’re scanning travel receipts on the go, capturing a signed contract on file, or just desperately trying to avoid your office’s gigantic, paper-shredding monstrosity of a scanner, you’ll surely benefit from this top-rated app. At a price of $4.99, it’s hard to turn down, especially considering the fact that older alternatives are less reliable, less portable, and much more expensive.
You don't have to take my word for it; check out CamScanner's impressive ratings

CamScanner in Action

Despite being a powerful app, CamScanner’s workflow is surprisingly simple and intuitive. First, you create a new document. CamScanner gives you the options of pulling a past image from your image gallery, or you can take a new picture for the purpose. Typically, you simply take a head-on photo of the first page of your document.

As soon as you select or take this photo, CamScanner offers you a well-designed cropping tool that helps you indicate the corners and edges of the document. The app does an impressive job of “guessing” where the edges of your document end. Below is an example where CamScanner found the corners and borders of my page with surprising precision. No adjustments were necessary.

CamScanner's cropping tool is great. Your fingers won't get in the way, and you rarely have to adjust it at all.

Once your document is cropped and rotated appropriately (which usually takes seconds), you simply press the checkmark in the lower right corner to proceed to the next step. This next step allows you to adjust the brightness and contrast of your document. If you photo wasn’t well lit (or was overexposed), you can make accommodations to ensure that your document is clear and readable. If you’re unhappy with the cropping or even the photo itself, you can always go back to earlier steps in the process. Once you’re happy with the brightness and contrast, you press the checkmark once again.

Adjusting the brightness and contrast helps make your document clear and readable.

At this point, you have several options. For multi-page documents, you can continue to add as many pages as you need, and they will be appended to the resulting PDF file. Once you’re finished with your document, you can save it as an image, email it as a PDF, or even fax it for a $0.99 fee. The fee might seem a little bothersome, but if you consider the cost of a fax machine (and a dedicated phone line), and the (hopefully) very few times that you actually send a fax, it’s well worth the cost.

You can save, email, and fax the PDF immediately after creating it. That's a lot faster than running from the old scanner to the even older fax machine.

CamScanner Downsides

There are few opportunities to take issue with CamScanner. The scans, while totally readable, are likely not as sharp, clear, or colorful compared to a larger, heavier, more expensive desktop scanner. The fax fee is also less than thrilling, but ultimately it’s a fair price for access to a fax machine and a fax line. Rolling the cost of faxing into the app’s original price tag would have been far worse for those of us who almost never send faxes. Scanning something like artwork, certificates, or other aesthetically-sensitive documents is likely best done at a copy shop. But, most of the time we just want to grab a readable, functional copy of a paper document, and CamScanner suits the purpose perfectly.

Conclusion

For your occasional faxing and scanning needs, CamScanner offers a great value. It’s especially helpful for those without fax lines or scanners, as well as frequent travelers who often come across materials that they wish they could digitize. You can put that bundle of oddly-shaped travel receipts away for good, and you can stop carrying around that creased, crumpled document that you’re constantly referring to. I’d highly recommend CamScanner, it’s lightened my bags, uncluttered my paper files, and helped me stay truly effective when I’m on the move.

CamScanner is available in iTunes and the Android marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about CamScanner for iOS and Android

How does CamScanner compare to other document scanning apps?

CamScanner stands out from other document scanning apps due to its unique features and user-friendly interface. It offers high-resolution scans, automatic edge detection, and image enhancement to ensure your documents are clear and sharp. Unlike some other apps, CamScanner also allows you to scan multiple pages into one document, making it ideal for larger documents. It also offers OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, which can extract text from images, making it easier to edit and share your scanned documents.

Is CamScanner safe to use?

Yes, CamScanner is safe to use. It uses advanced security measures to protect your data. However, like any app, it’s important to keep it updated to the latest version to ensure you have the most recent security updates.

Can I use CamScanner on both iOS and Android devices?

Yes, CamScanner is available for both iOS and Android devices. It offers a consistent user experience across both platforms, making it easy to switch between devices if needed.

How does the OCR feature in CamScanner work?

The OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature in CamScanner works by analyzing the scanned image and identifying the characters in it. It then converts these characters into editable text. This feature is particularly useful for business cards, receipts, and other documents where you might want to extract and use the text.

Can I share my scanned documents with others using CamScanner?

Yes, CamScanner allows you to easily share your scanned documents with others. You can share via email, social media, or cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. You can also generate a link to your document that others can use to view or download it.

What formats can I save my scanned documents in with CamScanner?

CamScanner allows you to save your scanned documents in various formats including JPEG and PDF. This makes it easy to use your scans in different applications or share them with others.

Can I scan multiple pages into one document with CamScanner?

Yes, CamScanner allows you to scan multiple pages into one document. This is a useful feature for scanning larger documents or books.

How can I improve the quality of my scans with CamScanner?

CamScanner offers several features to improve the quality of your scans. It has automatic edge detection and image enhancement features that help ensure your scans are clear and sharp. You can also manually adjust the contrast and brightness of your scans if needed.

Does CamScanner offer cloud storage for my scans?

Yes, CamScanner offers cloud storage for your scans. This allows you to access your scanned documents from any device with CamScanner installed. It also provides a backup of your scans in case you lose your device.

Is there a cost to use CamScanner?

CamScanner offers both a free version and a premium version. The free version offers basic scanning features, while the premium version offers additional features like OCR, high-resolution scans, and more. The premium version also removes ads and watermarks from your scans.

Peter NorthPeter North
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Peter is Chief Digital Officer of CuriosityStream, a multi-platform nonfiction streaming service by the founder of Discovery Communications (Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Animal Planet, etc.). Peter is also Co-Founder of True North, a management consulting firm and digital marketing agency with clientele that includes WebMD and Salesforce.

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