Turn multiple files into realistic, scanned‑looking PDFs in one go — right in your browser. Look Scanned processes everything locally (no uploads), works offline after the first load, and supports a wide range of file types to fit real‑world workflows.

Quick answer: batch convert PDFs to scanned‑looking PDFs (in your browser)

  • Open Look Scanned
  • Drag and drop multiple files (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, Excel, images, Markdown, HTML, TXT)
  • Choose scan‑style settings (grayscale, border, rotation, blur, noise)
  • Click convert to generate scanned‑looking PDFs and download — fast, private, and offline‑capable

Who is this for?

  • Legal, operations, and admin teams standardizing outgoing PDFs
  • Educators distributing “scan‑style” assignments and handouts
  • Designers and makers creating authentic scanned aesthetics at scale
  • Anyone needing fast, private, and consistent document conversion

What you’ll learn

  • Add and convert many files at once with unified settings
  • Choose scan‑like parameters for clarity, realism, and size
  • Use Pro options (signatures, stamps, watermarks, metadata)
  • Optimize performance for large batches

Supported input formats

  • PDFs (batch convert PDF to scanned PDF)
  • Images (JPG, PNG, etc.) → scanned‑looking PDF
  • Office files: DOCX, PPTX, Excel → scanned‑looking PDF
  • Web/text: Markdown, HTML, TXT → scanned‑looking PDF

All outputs are exported as scanned‑looking PDFs.

Why batch convert with Look Scanned

  • Privacy‑first and secure: processing happens 100% in your browser — no uploads
  • Offline ready: use it on flights or without a connection after first load
  • Consistent results: unified settings across all files in a batch
  • Cross‑format support: PDF, Office, images, and text sources
  • WYSIWYG preview: adjust parameters and see results instantly

Step‑by‑step: How to batch convert PDFs and documents into scanned‑looking PDFs with Look Scanned

  1. Open Look Scanned

  2. Add your files

    • Drag and drop files into the upload area or click to select.
    • You can add PDFs, images, DOCX, PPTX, Excel, Markdown, HTML, and TXT.

  3. Configure global scan settings (applies to all items by default)

    • Colorspace: grayscale or color
    • Border: add a subtle edge for a scanned border look
    • Rotate + variance: small angles mimic natural scanner skew
    • Brightness/contrast: tune legibility vs. texture
    • Blur: gentle blur to soften digital crispness
    • Noise: paper‑like grain for realism
    • Yellowish tint: simulate aged paper if desired
    • Resolution: balance clarity and file size

  4. (Optional, Pro) Document enhancements

    • Signatures & Stamps: add professional marks
    • Watermark: burn‑in, uneditable watermarks
    • PDF Metadata: set author, title, subject, keywords

  5. Preview

    • Select a file to see an instant preview with your chosen settings.
    • Adjust parameters until the look matches your needs.

  6. Convert and download

    • Start the conversion. Look Scanned processes files locally and quickly.
    • Save the resulting scanned‑looking PDFs to your device.

Quality presets and tips

  • Text‑heavy documents
    • Grayscale, low blur, moderate contrast, minimal noise
  • Forms and contracts
    • Slight rotation variance, subtle border, low noise for authenticity
  • Creative or archival aesthetics
    • A touch more noise and a light yellowish tint
  • Keep it realistic
    • Avoid extreme blur or heavy noise that hurts readability

Performance tips for large batches

  • Prefer a modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) for fastest processing
  • Avoid running many heavy tabs/apps concurrently during conversion
  • Very large images: consider compressing or reducing resolution beforehand
  • If you have hundreds of pages/files, process in smaller batches for smoother UX

Troubleshooting

  • Upload issues
    • If an Office file fails to import, export it to PDF first, then convert
  • Missing fonts from DOCX/PPTX
    • Embed fonts or export to PDF to preserve appearance
  • Output too large
    • Lower resolution slightly and reduce noise/contrast
  • Output too soft
    • Reduce blur and increase resolution modestly

FAQ

Can I batch convert PDF to scanned‑looking PDF online?

Yes — with Look Scanned. It runs entirely in your browser, so your files never leave your device.

Is Look Scanned safe for sensitive documents?

Yes. Processing is local and private; nothing is uploaded to servers.

Will batch conversion make PDFs too large?

File size depends on resolution and noise. Lower the resolution slightly and keep blur/noise moderate for compact results.

How do I keep text readable?

Use grayscale, minimal blur, and moderate contrast; avoid heavy noise.

Does it work offline?

Yes. After the first visit, Look Scanned is offline‑capable.

Ready to try it? Open lookscanned.io and convert your documents into realistic scanned‑looking PDFs in minutes.