How to Digitize Old Documents with an Image to Text Converter

Preserving old documents is crucial for maintaining historical records, legal paperwork, and personal archives. However, physical documents degrade over time, making digitization an essential process. Thanks to image to text converters, you can easily extract text from old documents, making them editable and searchable.
In this article, we’ll explore how to digitize old documents using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology and the best ways to extract text from PNG files efficiently.
Why Digitize Old Documents?
Digitizing old documents offers several benefits, including:
✅ Preservation – Protects important documents from physical damage.
✅ Easy Access – Converts paper records into digital formats for quick retrieval.
✅ Searchability – Extracting text from images allows you to search for specific words.
✅ Editing & Sharing – Once converted, you can edit, update, and share text effortlessly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Digitizing Old Documents
Step 1: Scan or Take a Clear Photo
First, scan your old document using a scanner or take a high-quality photo with your smartphone. Ensure that:
✔ The text is clear and readable
✔ There are no shadows or distortions
✔ The file is saved in PNG, JPEG, or PDF format
Step 2: Extract Text from PNG with an OCR Tool
Once you have your scanned document, use an OCR tool to extract text from PNG files. One of the best online tools for this process is PNGtoText.com.
How to Use PNGtoText.com:
1️⃣ Visit PNGtoText.com.
2️⃣ Upload your PNG file (or other image formats).
3️⃣ Click “Convert” to start the OCR process.
4️⃣ Wait for the tool to extract text from the PNG file.
5️⃣ Copy and save the extracted text into a Word or Notepad document.
💡 Tip: If your document is in a different language, some OCR tools support multi-language recognition!
Step 3: Edit and Format the Extracted Text
Once the text is extracted, you may notice some minor errors, especially in handwritten or faded documents. Carefully:
✔ Proofread the extracted text for accuracy
✔ Fix formatting issues (paragraph breaks, missing punctuation, etc.)
✔ Save in an editable format (Word, PDF, Google Docs)
Step 4: Store and Back Up Your Digital Documents
Now that your document is in digital form:
✅ Save it on your computer or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)
✅ Name files properly for easy searching
✅ Keep multiple backups to avoid data loss
Best Tools to Extract Text from PNG Files
Extracting text from images, especially PNG files, has become a crucial task for businesses, students, researchers, and professionals. Whether you need to digitize handwritten notes, extract text from scanned documents, or automate data entry, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology can help convert images into editable text.
In this article, we’ll explore the best tools to extract text from PNG files, covering free and premium options for quick and accurate text conversion.
1. PNGtoText.com – Best Free Online PNG to Text Converter
PNGtoText.com is an efficient and user-friendly online tool that allows you to extract text from PNG images quickly.
Key Features:
✔ Free to use – No registration required
✔ Simple interface – Just upload your PNG file and extract text
✔ Supports multiple languages
✔ Accurate OCR technology
💡 How to Use PNGtoText.com:
- Go to PNGtoText.com.
- Upload your PNG image containing text.
- Click “Convert” and let the OCR process extract text.
- Copy and save the extracted text for editing.
🔹 Best for: Students, professionals, and businesses looking for a quick, free, and reliable way to extract text from PNG files.
2. Google Drive OCR – Convert PNG to Editable Text in Docs
Google Drive has a built-in OCR feature that allows you to extract text from images, including PNG files.
Key Features:
✔ Completely free with a Google account
✔ Seamless integration with Google Docs
✔ Cloud-based storage and access
💡 How to Use Google Drive OCR:
- Upload the PNG file to Google Drive.
- Right-click the file and select “Open with Google Docs.”
- Google Docs will automatically extract the text from the image.
🔹 Best for: Users who want a free, cloud-based solution for extracting text from PNG files and converting them into editable Google Docs.
3. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC – Best for Scanned PDFs and Professional OCR
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is one of the most powerful OCR tools for extracting text from scanned documents, including PNG images.
Key Features:
✔ Advanced OCR technology for high-accuracy text extraction
✔ Edits scanned text within PDFs
✔ Supports batch processing for multiple PNG files
✔ Export text in multiple formats (Word, Excel, PDF, etc.)
🔹 Best for: Businesses, researchers, and professionals who need a premium, high-quality OCR solution for scanned documents.
4. Microsoft OneNote – Extract Text from PNG on Windows
Microsoft OneNote has a built-in OCR feature that allows users to extract text from images, including PNG files.
Key Features:
✔ Free with Microsoft Office Suite
✔ Works offline without an internet connection
✔ Can extract text from handwritten notes and scanned images
💡 How to Use OneNote OCR:
- Open Microsoft OneNote and insert a PNG file.
- Right-click on the image and select “Copy Text from Picture.”
- Paste the extracted text into a document for editing.
🔹 Best for: Windows users who need an offline solution to extract text from PNG images.
5. OnlineOCR.net – Simple and Fast Web-Based OCR Tool
OnlineOCR.net is another free online tool for extracting text from PNG files.
Key Features:
✔ Supports multiple image formats (PNG, JPG, PDF, etc.)
✔ Allows text extraction in multiple languages
✔ No software installation required
💡 How to Use OnlineOCR.net:
- Visit OnlineOCR.net.
- Upload your PNG file.
- Select the language and output format (TXT, DOC, etc.).
- Click “Convert” to extract the text.
🔹 Best for: Quick and simple online text extraction from PNG files without registration.
Comparison Table: Best PNG to Text Extractors
Tool | Free/Paid | Best For | Key Features |
---|---|---|---|
PNGtoText.com | Free | Quick online text extraction | Simple, fast, supports multiple languages |
Google Drive OCR | Free | Cloud-based text extraction | Converts PNG to Google Docs text |
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC | Paid | High-accuracy OCR | Professional text extraction from scanned files |
Microsoft OneNote | Free | Offline OCR on Windows | Extracts text from images and handwritten notes |
OnlineOCR.net | Free | Simple online conversion | No installation required, multiple languages supported |
Conclusion
Using an image to text converter, you can easily extract text from PNG files and digitize old documents for preservation and easy access. Tools like PNGtoText.com make the process simple and efficient, allowing you to turn historical records, legal documents, or personal notes into editable and searchable digital files.
Start digitizing your important documents today and ensure their longevity for future generations!
