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Expert Guide to Image to Scanned PDF Conversions [5 Ways]

  • By Steven
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  • Updated on July 8, 2025
Introduction:
Want to convert images to scanned PDFs for higher security or other reasons? How to convert image to scanned PDF on different devices? This PDF solution post from SwifDoo PDF includes all you want to learn.
summary

Why Convert Image to Scanned PDF

Scanned PDFs, also known as image-only PDFs, are digital versions of paper documents created by scanners. Each page of a scanned PDF file is stored as images, which can’t be searched or edited unless OCR is applied.

What are the benefits of turning images into scanned PDFs? To view your pictures on various photo viewers or operating systems as intended, sending a scanned PDF is a better choice, as it preserves the exact layout and margin on any device and platform. Besides, instead of sending separate images, it is more convenient to combine them into a multipage PDF file. Also, it makes downloading and archiving PDF files easy. 

How to convert images to scanned PDFs with ease? Just keep reading!

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How to Convert Image to Scanned PDF on Desktop

First, let's explore effective methods for converting pictures to scanned PDFs on both Windows and Mac. Additionally, online methods are also included.

Convert Image to Scanned PDF on Windows

SwifDoo PDF is a professional program that has all the PDF tools you need. You can use it to view, edit, annotate, convert, and compress PDFs.

As a powerful PDF converter, SwifDoo PDF supports converting PDFs to and from most popular formats, such as image (JPG, PNG, BMP, etc.) Word (DOCX and DOC), Excel, PowerPoint, and others. You can use it to convert images to scanned PDFs. Besides, it supports converting scanned documents to PDFs.

Here’s how to convert an image to a scanned PDF with SwifDoo PDF

Step 1. Click the download button below to get the installation package of SwifDoo PDF and refer to the on-screen prompts to install it on your Windows PC.

  • SwifDoo PDF

    Click to Download

  • Clean & Safe

    100%

Step 2. Run this reliable image-to-scanned PDF converter, choose Convert from the top menu bar, and select the Image to PDF option.

Choose the Image to PDF option under the Convert tab in SwifDoo PDF

Step 3. Click the + Add Files option to import the image you want to turn into a scanned PDF. Or, you can directly drag and drop the target image into SwifDoo PDF.

Click on + Add Files to import the target image into SwifDoo PDF

Step 4. Open the Page Size list to set the scanned PDF page size, and then click the three-dot icon to specify the folder where you want to save the scanned PDF. Finally, click the Start button to obtain the scanned PDF.

Tips: SwifDoo PDF supports converting multiple images into a single PDF file or multiple PDF files. What you need to do is open the Options dropdown and choose from the Make a New PDF option or the Create Multiple PDF Documents option.

Choose from the Create a New PDF option and the Create Multiple PDF Documents option in SwifDoo PDF

Optionally, you can select the Flatten PDF option to make your PDF only editable but not searchable. On the contrary, you can choose the To Searchable PDF option to let the PDF only be searchable but not editable.

Select the Flatten PDF option or the To Searchable PDF option to make the scanned PDF only searchable or editable in SwifDoo PDF

If you want to make your scanned PDF searchable and editable, you can switch to the Edit tab, click the OCR option, personalize the OCR settings, and click the Apply button.

Choose the OCR option under the Edit tab in SwifDoo PDF to make the scanned PDF searchable and editable

To completely digitize your paperwork, you can use SwifDoo PDF to redact and add digital signatures. Furthermore, you can convert PDF to PDF/A.

Convert Image to Scanned PDF on Mac

For Mac users, you can use Preview to turn an image into a scanned PDF. It is a built-in application for Mac to view and handle images and PDFs. You can check the steps below and have a try.

Step 1. Go to Finder to find the target image, right-click on it, move to Open With, and choose the Preview option.

Step 2. Click the File tab and hit the Export as PDF option.

Step 3. Give it a name, customize its saving path, and click the Save button.

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Convert Image to Scanned PDF Online

If you have limited storage space for installing software, you can try online image-to-scanned PDF converters. Here’s a list of useful online image-to-scanned PDF converters for your choice:

  • iLovePDF
  • Scanner Go
  • Smallpdf

I have tested the above three online tools several times. All of them have an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Hence, I will use iLovePDF as an example to show you how to convert a picture to a scanned PDF.

Step 1. Open any of your browsers and go to the official website of iLovePDF.

Step 2. Select the JPG to PDF option.

Choose the JPG to PNG option in iLovePDF

Step 3. Click the Select JPG images option to import the target picture from your device. Also, you can upload photos from Google Drive and Dropbox.

Click the Select JPG images button to upload the target picture to iLovePDF

Step 4. On the right-side panel, you can set the page orientation and size. Meanwhile, you can choose to add a margin to your scanned PDF. Next, click the Convert to PDF button to initiate the conversion process.

Personalize scanned PDF page settings in iLovePDF and click the Convert to PDF button

Step 5. Finally, click Download PDF to save it locally. Alternatively, you can choose to save the scanned PDF to Google Drive or Dropbox. Furthermore, you can share the scanned PDF via a link or a QR code.

How to Convert Image to Scanned PDF on a Phone

Can’t wait to convert images to scanned PDFs on phones? Then let's get straight to the point!

Convert Image to Scanned PDF on Android

Surprisingly, SwifDoo PDF also has an Android version, enabling you to turn an image into a scanned PDF. Additionally, it supports viewing, annotating, converting, and printing PDFs. Read the following steps to learn how to convert picture to scanned PDF by SwifDoo PDF for Android.

Step 1. Download and install SwifDoo PDF for Android. Then launch it on your Android phone.

Step 2. Tap on the Tools tab and choose the Image option under the Convert PDF from section.

Step 3. Choose the image from your gallery, customize the export options, and start the conversion process.

In addition to being available on Android, SwifDoo PDF can also work on iPhone. All the features you get on the Android version of SwifDoo PDF are available on its iPhone version.

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Convert Image to Scanned PDF on iPhone

In addition to using SwifDoo PDF for iOS, you can also use the built-in features of your iPhone to turn an image into a scanned PDF without applications. This method will use the Files app. Just follow the guidance below and give it a try.

Step 1. Open the Files app on your iPhone and find the picture you want to convert to a scanned PDF.

Tips: If you don’t save the target picture to the Files app, open the Photos app, tap the Share icon, and tap the Save to Files option.

Step 2. Long-press the target picture and choose the Quick Actions option.

Step 3. Next, choose the Create PDF option. Then the PDF file will appear next to the target picture.

Long-press the target picture and tap the Quick Actions option to choose the Create PDF option in the Files app

Final Words

That’s all about converting image to scanned PDF. In the content above, I have introduced five methods for converting images to scanned PDFs on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone devices. Hopefully, this post will be helpful to you!

Steven is a dedicated contributor at Swifdoo.com. He possesses a deep understanding of various technology domains, including PDF software, program components, and video recording software technologies. He is committed to providing you with the latest insights and solutions to technology-related issues.

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