Free PDF OCR (via Layer) from Tracker

[loyukfai]

Just found out the latest release of PDF-XChange Viewer (a Windows app) has OCR functionality, it's even available in the free version.

Gave it a quick try on one of my outputs, result from black text on white background is excellent.(excerpt: http://ifile.it/zl7ug92)

The basic install includes 4 languages - English, French, German and Spanish. Additional modules are available for many European languages and even CKJ (Chinese, Korean and Japanese).

Cheers.

References:
http://www.tracker-software.com/product ... nge-viewer
http://www.tracker-software.com/pdf-xchange-viewer-ocr
http://www.tracker-software.com/forum3/ ... 0f0a119872

[victoriaaustralia]

thank you loyukfai, I just downloaded and tried this - works very easily.

Will only open existing PDF documents, will not open or print TIFF to PDF. THey do sell a PDF printer for $US37 which is may be worth a try.

I used the OCR of the free PDF viewer and this worked very well in english, allowing me to save a copy with OCR text.
There is an option to save the new PDF with original image and then a text layer or as image and text layer.

at 295 page book, intially 18.8mb without OCR
and 20mb with OCR.

worth a look.

[loyukfai]

Welcome!

Off-topic: There are many free (of charge, but some are adware-supported) PDF printers out there, why would you consider paying 37USD for one, if that's what you want...?

Cheers.

[daniel_reetz]

We often get software suggestions here, but reviews are less frequent. Thanks for reporting back with your results!

PDFcreator is one free printer like loyukfai mentions, and there are many others. Anyone care to compile a list?

[loyukfai]

Ahha. Just read again what I wrote and it seemed like an ad... <joke>I wish Tracker read that and then offer me a free license of the pro version.</joke>

Regarding free PDF printers, I recommend PDFCreator too. The interface isn't the slickest but...... I forgot, I just tried a few and think it's the best. BTW, along with PDFCreator, many of those free PDF printers use Ghostscript as the back-end so their output is more or less the same.

If anyone would like to compile a list, a refer to an existing and informative one, that would be good.

Cheers.