Sometimes we need to get the text out of an image (such as the one posted above, a document scan, a screenshot, or a photo – think a group picture with nametags, for example). It is just inconvenient not to be able to search within “image-documents” or parse them.
I have good news for you. Character recognition is a solved computer task. There are several convenient ways to address the challenge.
- Upload to Google Drive.
- It will convert your image to text upon uploading.
- It is far from perfect, though; most formatting will be lost
- Google Cloud OCR recognizes formatting.
- Yandex Image automatically OCRs when you search by image:
Do you have a favorite OCR tool?
I will be speaking about creative sourcing in images at Sourcing Summit Germany – please come listen if you are attending!
My blog readers: would there be interest in an Image-focused sourcing webinar?