Adjust the scan effect
Start with a gentle effect and preview your changes.
- Adjust rotation, noise and blur
- Control contrast and resolution
- Choose color or grayscale
No printer. No scanner.
Make your PDF look scanned.
Add a natural scan effect and your own signature. Preview the result before downloading. Your PDF stays on your device.
1 PDF per day · No account required
Or drop a PDF here · Up to 50 MB
Your PDF is processed in your browser.
Drag to compare
Local PDF processing
Your PDF is processed in your browser.
No account required
1 PDF per day · No account required
How it works
From a digital PDF to a natural scan effect
1
Choose your PDF
Select a file or drop it here. Your PDF stays on your device.
2
Adjust and preview
Choose the effect and optionally place your own signature.
3
Download your PDF
Preview your document and download the result.
Make it look the way you need
Real controls for your PDF and your own signature
Add your own signature
Draw your own signature, then position it on your PDF.
- Draw with a mouse or finger
- Resize, rotate and place your signature
- Choose which pages to sign
Get a result you can use
All guides →How to make a PDF look scanned without losing readability
Start with a light scan effect, compare the same page at full size, and keep the text readable. Includes the original and real processed sample.
Read the guide →Add your own signature to a PDF without printing
Draw your own signature, position it on the page, preview it, and download a copy. Understand what this visual signature does and does not do.
Read the guide →Why did my scanned-looking PDF get so large?
See why turning text into page images changes PDF size, how resolution affects it, and how to compare readable outputs with a reproducible sample.
Read the guide →PDF scan effects in your browser: privacy and limitations
Understand which processing stays on your device, why account and payment services still use the network, and what offline use and rasterized exports mean.
Read the guide →Sign a PDF and make it look printed and scanned without a printer
Add your own signature to a PDF and give the page a printed-and-scanned look in your browser. Real before and after files, starting settings and honest limits.
Read the guide →Simple pricing
Try it free. Upgrade for regular use.
Free
US$0
1 PDF per day · No account required
- All scan effects
- Add your own signature
- Local PDF processing
PRO
US$2/month
Or US$20/year · Save 17%
- Unlimited PDFs
- All scan effects
- Add your own signature
- Priority support
14-day money-back guarantee · Cancel anytime
Questions, answered
What to know before you choose a PDF
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Your browser opens the PDF, applies the scan effect and builds the new file on your device. The document and your signature are never sent to our servers. Accounts, usage limits, payments and analytics (when enabled) use the network, but never receive your file.
Can I still select or search the text?
No. As with a real scan, every page becomes an image, so the result has no selectable text, links or form fields, and no OCR layer is added. Keep your original PDF if you need searchable text.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It runs in modern browsers on iPhone, iPad and Android, and you can draw your signature with your finger. Long or large PDFs need more memory, so try a short file first on an older phone.
Can I add my signature?
Yes, the signature is included in the free plan. Draw it with a mouse, trackpad or finger, then move, resize and rotate it on the pages you choose. It is a visual signature, not a certified digital signature.
How many PDFs can I make for free?
One PDF per day, with no account required. Pro removes the daily limit for US$2/month or US$20/year.
How is this different from printing and scanning?
You skip the printer and the scanner. ScanYourPDF imitates a scan with a slight tilt, paper texture, grayscale and soft blur, and you control how strong it looks. It does not prove a paper original existed, so check what the recipient requires.
Does it work offline?
After the app has loaded once, it can keep working without a connection, also as an installed web app. Offline exports count against a daily limit stored on your device.