pdfMB

Scan to PDF

Photograph paper pages with your camera and get a straight, clean PDF. Everything happens on this device.

or drop photos here

Nothing is uploaded. Your photos stay on this device.

  • Camera stays privatePictures are processed on this device and never sent anywhere.
  • Works offlineKeeps working once this page is open.
  • Free, no sign-upNo account and no daily limit.

What happens to your pages

Everything below happens inside your browser, on your own device. The camera picture and the PDF are never uploaded, so nobody else, including us, can see them.

  1. The camera picture stays in your browser’s memory. Nothing is sent over the network.
  2. The page edges are found on your device by looking for four straight edges that form a page.
  3. The page is straightened from the full-size picture, not the small preview, so the corners you choose become the corners of the page.
  4. The “Document” look evens out shadows and yellow light, makes the paper white and makes the text darker.
  5. Each page is saved as a JPG at good quality, without location, camera model or any other photo details.
  6. Turning a page does not save the picture again, so the quality stays the same.
In short
  1. Open the camera
  2. Photograph each page
  3. Check the corners
  4. Press “Create PDF” and download

How to scan a document to PDF

  1. Press “Open camera” and allow the camera when your browser asks.
  2. Point the camera at the page. A red outline shows the edges that were found. Take the picture.
  3. Drag the corners if they are not on the page corners, then press “Apply”. Scan the next page, or press “Done”.
  4. Choose a look for each page, turn pages and change their order. Then pick a page size and press “Create PDF”.
  5. No camera, or the camera is blocked? Choose photos of your pages instead. They are straightened in the same way.

Tips for a clean scan

Use plenty of even light

Daylight from a window or a ceiling light works best. Avoid a single lamp that leaves one side dark, and do not let your own shadow fall on the page.

Lay the page flat

Put the page on a table rather than holding it. Press down curled corners and folds, because a bent page cannot be made perfectly straight.

Pick a background that stands out

A dark or coloured table makes the white page edges easy to find. Avoid white tables and striped or busy cloths.

Hold the phone above the page

Keep the whole page in view with a little space around it. Holding the phone straight above gives the sharpest text; a slight angle is fine and will be straightened.

Turn off the flash and hold still

Flash often leaves a bright glare on glossy paper. Wait until the outline sits on the page edges, then tap the button and hold still for a moment.

When people use it

Signed forms and contracts

Sign on paper, scan the pages and send one PDF back, without a scanner.

Receipts and invoices

Scan receipts for expense claims or tax records. The “Document” look keeps faint thermal print readable.

Schoolwork and notes

Turn handwritten homework or class notes into one PDF to hand in online.

ID and certificates for applications

Scan documents for an application form. Nothing is uploaded, which matters for personal papers.

What it can’t do

  • The text is a picture. You cannot select or search it, because there is no text recognition (OCR) yet.
  • Edge detection can miss the page on a white or busy background, such as a striped cloth. Drag the corners by hand in that case.
  • Curled or folded pages are straightened as a flat four-sided shape, so a strong curl still shows.
  • Some phone browsers give websites a lower camera resolution than the phone’s own camera app. If small text looks soft, take the photo with your camera app and choose it here.
  • Very large photos can be slow on older phones, because all the work happens on the device.

Questions about scanning to PDF

Do I need to install an app?

No. Scanning works in your phone’s browser. Open this page, press “Open camera” and allow the camera.

Are my scans uploaded anywhere?

No. The pictures are processed on your device and the PDF is made there too. You can scan with your internet connection off once this page has loaded.

Why does it ask for camera permission?

Your browser asks before any website can use the camera. pdfMB only uses it while the camera view is open, and you can say no and choose photos instead.

Which look should I choose?

“Document” is best for printed or handwritten text. “Original” keeps the colours as they were, for photos and drawings. “Black & white” gives the smallest file for plain text.

Can I scan several pages into one PDF?

Yes. After each page, scan the next one. When you are done, you can reorder, turn, retake or delete pages before making the PDF.

Can I scan with a computer?

Yes, if it has a webcam. Without a camera, choose photos of your pages, for example ones sent from your phone.