Field guide
Photograph a document properly before making a PDF
PDF conversion cannot correct information that the camera never recorded. A careful capture produces smaller, clearer pages and fewer rejected form uploads.
01
Place the document on a contrasting flat surface and hold the camera parallel to it. Diverging page edges are evidence of perspective, not a crop problem.
02
Use diffuse light from both sides and disable flash on glossy paper. A small specular highlight can erase signatures or digits even when the rest of the page is sharp.
03
Fill the frame while retaining a narrow border around every corner. Extra desk wastes resolution, but cutting an edge can make the document incomplete.
04
Zoom into the smallest text before leaving the capture setup. If letter interiors are filled or strokes double, retake the page rather than relying on sharpening later.