How to Make a PDF file in CamScanner? (Easy Guide)

CamScanner is an application available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Chrome that allows user to scan their documents and convert them to a high-quality PDF file. It is a great way of scanning documents on the go. It is also extremely handy if you don’t have any access to a traditional scanner. In this article, we will show you how you can create PDF files in CamScanner on mobiles as well as how you can create PDFs in CamScanner on your computer. We will also show you a great alternative – UPDF that can also be used create digital copies of your documents.

Part 1. Make PDF file in CamScanner on Mobile

CamScanner makes it simple to scan documents by using your phone. In this section, we will show you how to do it. Before you start following the instructions, make sure you have CamScanner app installed.

Scanning a single document

• Open your CamScanner app and click the “camera icon” at the bottom.
• Make sure that you are in the “Scan” mode and there is a “Single” option selected.

• Place your document within the frame and take a photo. When it is OK, you can tap on the “√” icon to create the PDF with the scanned paper.

Scanning multiple documents

You can also scan multiple papers into PDF. Here is the guide.

• To scan multiple papers, make sure that you are in the “Scan” mode and have “Batch” option selected.

• Place your document within the frame, take photo one by one, when they are down, you can tap on the “Complete” to create the PDF with multiple pages you need.

Scanning an ID card

If you have ID card and want to scan them into one page, you can use CamScanner to do that. Here is the guide for you.

• To scan an ID card, select the “ID Cards” option.

• Then choose “ID cards” and click “Make it now”.

• Place your document within the frame and take a photo of the front and back. Now, you create a PDF with two sides of your ID Card in one page.

Part 2. Make PDF file in CamScanner on the Computer

Creating a PDF file using CamScanner on your computer is pretty straightforward. This can be done in two ways: by using an online tool or a desktop application.

Way 1. Online Tool

CamScanner offers an online tool that can be used for converting images and other formats to a PDF file as well as basic editing features.

• Go to CamScanner website, select “Converter”, and log in.

• Now choose “View All Tools”.

• Select the option you want to use, for example, “Image to PDF”.

• Drag and drop your file and wait for the conversion to complete.

Way 2. Desktop Tool

The CamScanner desktop app offers the same features as the online tool. You can convert your files to other formats as well as edit them by using tools for annotating PDFs, adding text, signing PDFs, and more.

• Go to CamScanner website to download the desktop app.
• Open the software and click “Upload" to upload your file. Then open the file you uploaded. Now, you can create a PDF successfully.

• Now you can customize the PDF. Here, you can see 4 options at the top: “Edit”, “Annotate”, “Page”, and “Convert”.

• Once done, save the PDF.

Part 3. Problems of Using CamScanner When Creating a PDF

Like with every software, you may encounter some issues when using CamScanner to create your PDFs.

Here are some of the most common problems:

• Cannot create a blank PDF – CamScanner is designed to scanned physical documents. It cannot create a blank PDF from scratch.
• Limited free trial – The app offers only 3 days to test all its premium features. This could be too short for some users to decide if they want to continue with the subscription.
• High cost – Paid plan costs $39.99 per year. This may be considered as too expensive given the limited features.
• Privacy Concerns – In 2019, CamScanner was temporarily removed from Google Play Store as it contained malware. The issue was resolved; however, it raised trust concerns for some users.

Part 4. How to Create PDF Using CamScanner Alternative?

There are many other applications that can help you scan your documents and create PDFs. One of the best alternatives is UPDF - a PDF editing software that is available on iOS as well as Android, Windows, and Mac. UPDF not only can create PDFs, but has a lot more features than CamScanner. It allows users to organize pages, add stamps, annotations, stickers, and more.

Here, I will take UPDF for iOS as an example to show you the guide on how to use UPDF to create a PDF.

How to Scan a Document with UPDF for iOS

• Download the UPDF app from the App Store or via the above button and open it. Then select the “Scanner” option located at the bottom.

• Click the camera icon.
• Take a photo of the document.  You can scan as many papers you like. Then, tap on the arrow icon at the bottom right. Here, you can customize the images. When they are done, tap on the “download” icon at the top right corner to save all the images to UPDF. Now, tap on the three dots on below the image and choose “Convert to PDF” to create a PDF with it.

How to Create a Blank PDF with UPDF for iOS

UPDF for Ios also allows you to create a blank PDF. Just follow the guide below.

• Select “Files” option located at the bottom and then click the plus icon.

• Now select “Create PDF”.

• Choose “Blank” paper style.

• Now you can start creating a PDF from scratch. At the top, there are various tools you can use, such as pen, text, stamps, and more, to create your PDF content.

• Click one of the icons to open more tools. For example, choose the “pen” icon.

• At the bottom, you will see more options. Select one to use it. Let’s choose “pen” again. Now you can draw on the document. If you want to choose another tool, select a different tool.

You may feel confused about why you should use UPDF instead of other tools. Here are the reasons.

Why to choose UPDF?

• One license can be used across all platforms (Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS)
• Edit, convert, annotate, sign, and organize PDFs – all in one software
• Great AI features for summarizing, rewriting, or translating
• Super affordable price

For a deeper look at UPDF’s features, read this detailed review. If you prefer listening here, you can watch a video instead:

Final Words

CamScanner can be a great tool to use if you want to make a PDF. We hope that this short guide helped you how to make PDF files in CamScanner. If you like testing new tools, we also recommend you try UPDF – a great CamScanner alternative that can not only scan files but also edit them using advanced features. Don’t wait – download UPDF now and take your skills to the next level.