How To Turn Any Book Into A PDF Or eBook

Depending on your book’s length, you might spend hours digitizing it using a document scanner app or a flatbed/sheet-fed scanner. These techniques are not only time-consuming, but there are also instances when you can’t capture the entirety of the page because of the book’s curvature. You’d have to flatten the book as best you can or de-bind it completely. If you’re looking for a quicker and more efficient digitization process that also addresses concerns about curved pages, a smart book scanner is a more suitable option for you.

Smart book scanners use HD cameras and other sophisticated imaging technologies to take high-quality images of the book pages. This accelerates the process into minutes instead of hours (some smart book scanners claim to scan a 300-page book in under ten minutes). This type of scanner also features automatic page flattening for minimizing page distortions, optical character recognition (OCR) for analyzing a text-filled image and converting it into an editable format, and a dedicated app that eliminates the need for third-party software. You can use the app to set your scanning preferences and create a PDF of the captured images. Popular smart book scanning options include CZUR Shine Ultra, VIISAN DL8, and IRIScan Desk 5 PRO. However, it’s important to note that smart book scanners can cost more than traditional scanners, with high-end models priced at upwards of $600.