How to scan a document with a Mac

The expertise to scan a archive into a computer, beryllium that a Windows PC aliases Mac, is really adjuvant successful 2024 for each sorts of individual and master reasons. Whether it's organising analog files, sharing documents, aliases storing documents, scanning is in.

For Mac users (or macOS users, to beryllium precise), scanning documents is simply a really elemental process acknowledgment to Apple's built-in package for scanning that useful pinch astir of nan best printers and standalone scanners.

In this article, we're going to break down nan simplest ways to scan documents, which is by utilizing nan Mac's Image Capture instrumentality aliases Preview, some of which travel preinstalled connected each machines.

Tools and requirements

• A Mac
• macOS' Preview aliases Image Capture
• A printer aliases scanner

Steps for really to scan a archive connected a Mac

• Make judge your printer aliases scanner is connected and group up
• Go to nan Image Capture aliases Preview apps
• Find nan scanner and cheque nan settings
• Scan nan document.

Step by measurement guide

1. Set up your printer aliases scanner

The first measurement is to make judge that your printer pinch a built-in scanner, aliases your standalone scanner, are group up and talking to your Mac. Most modern printers link to devices wirelessly complete Wi-Fi aliases Bluetooth successful 2024, but galore besides connection a cablegram if that's what you prefer.

Make judge that your printer is up to day pinch nan latest package and drivers, and location should beryllium manuals and tutorials online to troubleshooter immoderate relationship issues you find.

macOS will usually instal updates for printers it knows automatically. Head to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners for much settings to tweak.

2. Place nan document

After making judge nan printer is connected, spot your archive connected nan scanning furniture and make judge it lines up pinch nan guidelines for different archive types and sizes, for illustration an A5 aliases A4 portion of paper. Then adjacent nan lid.

3. Using Image Capture to scan a archive

There are 2 options utilizing built-in macOS package to scan a document, and we'll commencement by looking astatine Image Capture.

First, unfastened nan app and connected nan near prime your printer aliases scanner from nan Devices section. Choose wherever to prevention your documents (like nan desktop), and customise immoderate applicable settings, for illustration nan solution aliases archive type.

Next, click preview and make judge nan archive looks correct and isn't wonky, but hitting Scan.

Your resulting scan will prevention and you tin position nan archive from there.

4. Using Preview to scan a document

The different action is to usage Preview, which besides comes built-in to macOS and includes a batch of different devices too archive scanning.

Open nan Preview app and spell to File > Import from Scanner > Select your device. You tin past set nan settings until you're happy, preview nan scan itself, and prime nan scanning area. Hit Scan and, aft immoderate whirring, you'll get a integer transcript of your document.

Preview will besides fto you rotate nan document, set nan brightness and contrast, and fiddle pinch different things successful post-production.

5. Using your printer's package aliases a third-party instrumentality

Very often, your printer will travel pinch its ain package to negociate scanning and you tin take to usage that if you wish. There mightiness beryllium immoderate circumstantial settings disposable successful your manufacturer's app, for example. Software for illustration nan HP Smart aliases Canon IJ Scan Utility tin beryllium useful and connection integration into nan unreality and different features.

We deliberation that nan built-in devices for macOS are beautiful easy to use, but it's bully to person different options arsenic well.

FAQs for scanning a archive connected a Mac

What is nan champion archive record type?

The reply to this mobility is very open-ended depending connected what you want to do pinch nan resulting document. Scanning pictures, for example, is ever easiest successful JPEG aliases PNG formats, and it's worthy checking nan best photograph scanners if this is what you want to do.

For astir different scanning tasks, PDF is going to beryllium nan record type of choice, acknowledgment to its versatility and expertise to activity pinch a batch of different programs.

Do I request a standalone scanner?

Since a batch of nan best printers, and particularly nan best all-in-one printers, travel pinch scanners included, having a standalone scanner is simply a somewhat niche need. We urge nan Canon Maxify GX4020 / GX4050 (US/UK) scanner, which covers each of nan bases – and well.

Final thoughts

Scanning documents connected a Mac is beautiful elemental acknowledgment to Apple's built-in package for macOS, Image Capture and Preview, and nan third-party options disposable pinch galore celebrated printer brands. We dream this guideline was helpful.