Hi All, We've had a few recent discussions about using OCR apps with the iPhone, so I wanted to mention that Readdle's Scanner Pro, normally a $6.99 purchase, is free today. First, let me say that this is not an OCR app -- it only takes images with your camera. However, the reason for drawing this app to your attention is that it applies image processing to make the saved image easier to read, and also to decipher by OCR programs. So, if you use this with a StandScan Pro, and take images of pages with text on colored backgrounds or where the letters are not as clear, and then use the "Toolbar Actions" button in the bottom right corner to "Open In…" and pass this to Prizmo or TextGrabber, you may get some better OCR results for cases that might be problematic.
Many OCR apps, including Prizmo, let you make image adjustments interactively to improve the results. The difference here is that Readdle's Scanner Pro app applies the image processing enhancements automatically, with the program making the adjustments instead of requiring vision. So, to summarize, if you're using TextGrabber or Prizmo, and your default operating conditions are good -- plenty of light, clean white paper with good quality text, and you have a great OCR success rate, then this app won't make a difference. But if your conditions are less ideal, the print quality isn't as good, the paper background is colored, or the lighting wasn't as good, then taking images with the Readdle Scanner Pro app and then sending them to either Prizmo or TextGrabber could give you better results, and improve the accuracy rate of your OCR. I haven't had a lot of time to experiment with this since the app is only free today. I think that most people will be using this with a StandScan Pro, or some other support frame. The first button on the screen is unlabeled. It is the "Settings" button, which lets you configure the app to automatically upload to DropBox, etc. or make changes to the default paper size or other settings. I didn't change any of the settings options, but only viewed these before closing this menu. The other elements of the main screen is an "Edit" button for deleting scans you've made, and the "Icon Camera" button and "Icon Photos" button at the bottom of the screen. I haven't tried to do anything with the Photo Album access, only using the camera. You do have to then press the "Camera Icon" button at the bottom of the screen above the Home button to take the picture, and then press the "Next" and "Save" buttons at the bottom right corner of the next screens to process the picture. (This is a bit like the way version 1 of Prizmo used to work). On the final screen, double tap the "Toolbar Actions" button in the bottom right corner and choose "Open In…" then select the OCR app of choice (e.g., Prizmo or TextGrabber). The documents are stored on the screen, and you can use the "Edit" button to delete them. I'm still not sure this is worth the effort, but you can all try this yourself, if you have a StandScan Pro. Make sure that you get Readdle's app, since there are many apps named "Scanner Pro". Also, . Here's the App Store link: • Scanner Pro (free today, usually $6.99) by Readdle https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scanner-pro-by-readdle/id333710667?mt=8 HTH. Cheers, Esther <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> To reply to this post, please address your message to [email protected] You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at either the list's own dedicated web archive: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> or at the public Mail Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>. Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> As the Mac Access Dot Net administrators, we do our very best to ensure that the Mac-Access E-Mal list remains malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free. However, this should in no way replace your own security strategy. We assume neither liability nor responsibility should something unpredictable happen. Please remember to update your membership preferences periodically by visiting the list website at: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/>
