PaperSurvey accepts multiple file formats for your scanned surveys, with PDF being the recommended choice for best 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
• GIF (.gif) - Basic support

Recommended format: PDF

PDF is our preferred format because it:

• Combines multiple pages into a single file
• Compresses efficiently for faster uploads
• Maintains quality while reducing file size
• Works universally across all scanners

Optimal scanning settings

For best recognition results, use these settings:

Resolution

• 300 DPI (dots per inch)
• Higher resolution won't improve accuracy
• Lower resolution may cause recognition errors

Color mode

• Grayscale or Black & White
• Color scanning is unnecessary and increases file size
• Grayscale handles pencil marks better than pure black/white

File format

• PDF with compression enabled
• Multi-page document mode
• Automatic page size detection

Example scanner configuration

Here's how optimal settings look in Image Capture (macOS):

Format comparison

Format	Multi-page	File size	Upload speed	Best for
PDF	Yes	Small	Fast	All surveys (recommended)
TIFF	Yes	Large	Slow	archival quality
JPEG	No	Medium	Medium	Single pages
PNG	No	Large	Slow	High detail
GIF	No	Small	Fast	Not recommended

Tips for each format

Using PDF

• Enable compression in scanner settings
• Use "Searchable PDF" option if available
• Combine all pages before uploading

Using TIFF

• Consider PDF instead for smaller files
• Use LZW compression if available
• Best for archival requirements

Using JPEG

• Set quality to 80-90%
• One file per page required
• Batch upload multiple files

Using PNG

• Only use if PDF unavailable
• Larger files take longer to process
• Good for detailed handwriting

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

File handling

• Single-page PDFs - Combine into multi-page documents
• Mixed formats - Stick to one format per batch
• Huge files - Files over 500MB may timeout

Scanner-specific tips

Office multifunction printers

• Look for "Scan to PDF" option
• Enable multi-page mode
• Use document feeder for batches

Desktop scanners

• Install manufacturer software for PDF support
• Configure default settings for consistency
• Clean glass regularly

Mobile scanning

• Use dedicated apps (not camera)
• Ensure good lighting
• Check PDF export options

Troubleshooting

Problem: Scanner only outputs JPEG Solution: Use scanner software to combine into PDF

Problem: Files taking very long to upload Solution: Reduce resolution to 300 DPI, use grayscale

Problem: Poor recognition quality Solution: Check resolution (not below 200 DPI)

By following these format guidelines, you'll achieve optimal recognition accuracy while minimizing upload times and storage costs.