Choosing the right file format and scanner settings has a significant impact on recognition accuracy and upload speed. PaperSurvey accepts several common file formats, with PDF being the recommended choice for the best overall results.
Supported formats
- PDF (.pdf) - Recommended
- JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg) - Common for single pages
- PNG (.png) - Good for high-quality scans
- TIFF (.tiff/.tif) - Professional scanning
- HEIC (.heic) - iPhone photos
- HEIF (.heif) - Modern mobile photos
Recommended format: PDF
PDF is the preferred format because it combines multiple pages into a single file, compresses efficiently for faster uploads, maintains quality while reducing file size, and works universally across all scanners.
Optimal scanning settings
For the best recognition results, use these settings:
Resolution
- 300 DPI (dots per inch) is the sweet spot
- Higher resolution will not improve accuracy
- Lower resolution may cause recognition errors
Color mode
- Grayscale or Black & White
- Color scanning is unnecessary and increases file size
- Grayscale handles lighter marks better than pure black/white
File format
- PDF with compression enabled
- Multi-page document mode
- Automatic page size detection
Example scanner configuration
Here is how optimal settings look in Image Capture (macOS):
Format comparison
| Format | Multi-page | File size | Upload speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Small | Fast | All surveys (recommended) | |
| TIFF | Yes | Large | Slow | Archival quality |
| JPEG | No | Medium | Medium | Single pages |
| PNG | No | Large | Slow | High detail |
| HEIC/HEIF | No | Small | Fast | iPhone and mobile photos |
Common scanning mistakes
Wrong settings
- Too high resolution (600+ DPI) wastes space without improving accuracy
- Color scanning triples file size unnecessarily
- No compression creates huge files that slow down uploads
File handling
- Single-page PDFs should be combined into multi-page documents
- Mixed formats cause inconsistency; stick to one format per batch
- Huge files over 500MB may timeout during upload
Scanner-specific guidance
Office multifunction printers
- Look for the "Scan to PDF" option
- Enable multi-page mode
- Use the document feeder for batch scanning
Desktop scanners
- Install manufacturer software for full PDF support
- Configure default settings for consistency
- Clean the glass regularly
Mobile scanning
- Use dedicated scanning apps (not the camera)
- Ensure good, even lighting
- Check PDF export options before uploading
By following these format guidelines, you will achieve optimal recognition accuracy while minimizing upload times and storage costs.