Scanned PDF Printing
Yes, Printster can print scanned PDFs and image-based documents. Upload your file as a PDF or JPG/PNG. For the sharpest result, ensure the scan resolution is at least 300 DPI. Very low-resolution scans may print with visible blur or pixelation.
A scanned PDF is not the same as a text-based PDF. Instead of selectable, vector text, it contains images of pages — photographs of printed or handwritten content captured by a scanner or a phone camera. Printster accepts and prints these files, but the output quality depends almost entirely on how well the scan was made. This guide explains what to check before uploading a scanned document, how to identify common problems, and how to get the cleanest possible print from a scan. Whether you have old lecture notes photographed on a phone, a scanned book chapter, or an official document that came as a scanned PDF, the principles are the same. Accepted formats at Printster include PDF, JPG and PNG, with a maximum file size of 100 MB. Files above 100 MB can be shared via WeTransfer.
Why Resolution Matters for Scanned Files
When you print a text-based PDF, the text is rendered at the printer's full resolution (typically 600–1200 DPI). A scanned PDF, however, is a photograph of text. The printer can only reproduce what the image contains.
- 300 DPI or above: the print will be sharp and text will be clean and readable.
- 150–299 DPI: text is readable but you may see slight softness on small fonts or fine lines.
- Below 150 DPI: text will appear blurry or pixelated in the final print — this is not fixable after the fact.
To check the resolution of a scanned PDF, open it in Adobe Acrobat or a free tool like PDF24, inspect the embedded images, and look for a DPI value.
How to Get a Good Scan
If you are scanning specifically for printing:
- Use a flatbed scanner if available; phone cameras introduce distortions and shadows.
- Set the scanner to at least 300 DPI (600 DPI for documents with very small text or fine diagrams).
- Scan in colour if the original has colour content; scan in greyscale for text-only documents.
- After scanning, use a PDF compressor to reduce file size without reducing resolution — some apps over-compress and destroy quality.
Common Problems with Scanned PDFs
- Skewed or rotated pages — a crooked scan is hard to read. Rotate and deskew pages in a PDF editor before uploading.
- Dark edges or shadows — from the scanner lid or curved book pages. Crop them out if they will appear in the print.
- Phone photos taken at an angle — perspective distortion makes text lines appear slanted. Use a document-scanning app (like Adobe Scan, CamScanner or Microsoft Lens) that auto-corrects geometry.
- File size over 100 MB — compress the PDF before uploading, or use WeTransfer to share the file with Printster.
Uploading to Printster
Upload your scanned PDF, JPG or PNG directly on the Printster upload page. The system generates a preview so you can inspect every page before placing your order. If pages appear blurry in the preview, the scan resolution is too low and reprinting from a better scan is recommended.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the minimum DPI for a scanned document to print clearly?
- 300 DPI is the minimum for sharp printed output. Scans below 150 DPI will produce noticeably blurry text in the final print.
- Can Printster print handwritten notes that have been scanned?
- Yes. As long as the scan is at 300 DPI or higher and the handwriting has good contrast with the paper (dark ink on white paper), it will print clearly.
- My scanned PDF file is 200 MB — how do I upload it?
- Compress the PDF using a tool like PDF24, Smallpdf or Adobe Acrobat before uploading (target under 100 MB). If compression reduces quality too much, upload the original via WeTransfer and share the link.
- Can I print a photo of a document taken on my phone?
- Yes, if the image is sharp and taken from directly above (not at an angle). Use a document-scanning app on your phone to auto-correct geometry and improve contrast before exporting as a PDF.
- Will a scanned document look the same as a natively created PDF?
- In most cases, a well-made 300+ DPI scan looks very similar to a text-based PDF when printed. The main differences are that text in a scanned PDF cannot be searched or selected, and very small fonts may look slightly softer.
- How do I check the resolution of my scanned PDF before uploading?
- Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader, right-click an image on a page and choose 'Properties' or 'Inspect'. Free tools like PDF24 or ILovePDF also show embedded image resolution. Look for a value of 300 DPI or higher.