Photograph each document straight on in good light, arrange the images in the required order, then create the PDF. Open the final file and check orientation, legibility, missing pages and total size.
Good source photos prevent rework
Use even light and hold the camera directly above the paper. Include all four edges and focus on the date, amount and issuer.
Flatten curled receipts and avoid shadows or glossy reflections. Faint thermal-paper text may need a small brightness adjustment.
Decide the page order first
Choose a clear rule such as chronological order or the order of an application form before you select the images.
Review thumbnails for duplicates and omissions. A temporary album can make a large set easier to manage.
- Put a cover or application first
- Sort receipts consistently
- Remove duplicates
Make orientation consistent
Rotate images before conversion so text faces the same direction. Leaving a small border around the paper makes it clear that the complete document was captured.
Open the finished PDF
Read from the first page to the last and check blur, cropping, upside-down pages and order. Confirm the file-size limit of the receiving service.
Mask sensitive information only according to the recipient’s instructions; do not hide information they require.
Five checks before submission
- ✓All text is readable
- ✓Pages are in order
- ✓Orientation is consistent
- ✓Nothing missing or duplicated
- ✓Format and size meet requirements
PDF Tools
Arrange multiple images and export them as one PDF in your browser.
PDF Tools→This article gives general guidance. If a recipient, printer or official service provides its own requirements, follow those requirements first.
A SMALL NOTE FROM SPACELoose papers become a document when they share one orbit. In this universe, page order is gravity.