Welcome > PDF Creation > How to create PDF documents > Create PDF files from a scanner

Create PDF files from a scanner

You can create PDF files while scanning.

  • Multiple scanner support is available, including scanners using ISIS drivers.

    Tip To install additional scanners, go to File > Options > General > Scanner Setup.

  • Power PDF Requires a scanner installed with its drivers and configured.

  • You should also configure the scanner properties in Power PDF. If you have not explicitly run the scanner setup, the Scanner Setup Wizard runs when you first try to use the scanner in Power PDF.

Scanner icon The From Scanner tool in the Home tab provides commands to scan to a new PDF file, to add pages to an existing file at a location you define, or to create a new file with markups.
  1. Click the arrow next to the From Scanner icon to access the menu.
  2. Click the preferred command.

Scan to PDF in one touch

You can bypass the scanner's own interface and use predefined settings.
  1. Click File > Options > General > Scanner Setup.

    The Scanner properties section appears.

  2. Define color mode, resolution and other settings.
  3. Clear the Display scanner dialog box check box.
  4. Click OK to use these settings each time you perform a scan.

Scan multiple pages to PDF

Multi-page scanning is available both from an ADF or a flatbed scanner.
  1. Click File > Options > General > Scanner Setup.

    The Scanner properties section appears.

  2. Select the Scan multiple pages check box.
  3. Click OK to save settings.

    A dialog box appears after each scan, asking whether to continue with the next page or finish.

Set the PDF flavor for scanning

Note The command Scan And Markup is not available when image-only is chosen.
  1. Click File > Options > General > Scanner Setup.

    The Scanner properties section appears.

  2. Select the preferred PDF type in the PDF type list.

    • Image-only

    • Searchable

    • Searchable and editable

    • MRC PDF document

    • Searchable MRC

  3. Optionally, select the required PDF standard in the Compatibility list (such as PDF/A-3a).
  4. Click OK to save settings.

Select or add a scanner

  1. Click File > Options > General > Scanner Setup.

    The Scanner properties section appears. The Selected scanner list contains the available scanners.

  2. If the list does not include the preferred scanner, click Setup to add it with the Kofax Scanner Setup Wizard.
  3. Click the preferred scanner in the Selected scanner list.
  4. Click OK to use this scanner.

Scan and markup

The Scan And Markup tool is available only when searchable or searchable and editable PDF is the selected PDF type (see Set the PDF flavor for scanning for details). Markup lets you apply the selected appearance to all text strings conforming to a predefined search string, pattern or mask (a customized pattern).

Note The command Scan And Markup is not available when image-only is selected.
  1. Click Home > From Scanner > Scan And Markup.
    The scanner driver dialog box appears.
  2. Use your scanner driver user interface to scan the document. Refer to your scanner documentation for details.

    The Markup dialog box appears.

  3. Select the marking appearance in the Markup Type list.
    • Highlight
    • Cross-out
    • Underline
    • Redaction
  4. Select a search method in the Search For group. See Searching by Patterns and Masks for details.

    Note Multiple search strings cannot be used.

  5. Set the search parameters specific to your selection.
  6. Click Markup to apply the selected appearance to the search matches.

Scan Inbox

This feature is provided in Power PDF Advanced.

This feature is useful if you have a network MFP or scanner that sends PDF files to an Inbox location.

  1. Click File > Options > Automation.

    The Scan Inbox section appears.

  2. Define one or more Inbox locations and enable prompting whenever a new PDF file enters a designated Inbox. See Scan Inbox / Quick Connect for details.
  3. Click OK to save settings.