As technology advances, so do the capabilities of our tools. In this guide, we'll delve into the OCR feature of Windows 11's Snipping Tool, unlocking a world of possibilities for capturing and converting text from images. Through this journey, we'll offer practical tips and comparisons, ensuring you make the most out of this valuable resource.
Part1: Overview of Snipping Tool in Windows 11
The Snipping Tool in Windows 11 is a versatile and user-friendly application designed to facilitate easy screen captures. It comes preinstalled with the operating system, making it readily available for users. This tool offers a range of features that enhance the screenshot-taking experience.
Key Features:
Capture Modes: The Snipping Tool provides various capture modes including Free-form Snip, Rectangular Snip, Window Snip, and Full-screen Snip. This ensures flexibility in selecting the desired area for capture.
Annotation Tools: After capturing a screenshot, users can utilize the built-in annotation tools to highlight, draw, or add notes to the image, enhancing its communicative potential.
Save and Share: Users can conveniently save their captures in various formats such as PNG, JPEG, or GIF. Additionally, there is an option to directly share the screenshot via email or other applications.
Pros:
User-Friendly Interface: The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users.
Quick Access: With its integration into the Windows operating system, the Snipping Tool is readily accessible, allowing for swift and efficient screen captures.
Annotation Features: The inclusion of annotation tools adds a layer of functionality, enabling users to provide context or highlight specific areas of interest within the capture.
Cons:
Limited Editing Options: While the Snipping Tool offers basic annotation features, for more advanced editing capabilities, users may need to utilize additional software.
Lacks Advanced Capture Options: Users seeking advanced screenshot functionalities like timed captures or scrolling captures may find the Snipping Tool's capabilities somewhat limited.
File Location: The executable file for the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 is typically located in the following directory: C:\Windows\System32\SnippingTool.exe
Note: It's worth mentioning that the Snipping Tool in Windows 10 shares similar functionality and interface with the version in Windows 11, ensuring a familiar experience for users transitioning between the two operating systems.
Part2: New OCR Feature for Snipping Tool on Windows 11 [2023]
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a transformative technology that enables the conversion of scanned documents or images containing text into editable and searchable data. It essentially translates images of text into machine-encoded text.
The OCR feature is expected to be rolled out as part of a major update in 2023. It's important to note that this feature will be exclusively available in Windows 11. Users currently operating on Windows 10 or earlier versions will need to update to Windows 11 to leverage this powerful OCR functionality.
Pros and Cons of OCR in Windows 11 Snipping Tool:
The OCR feature integrated into the Snipping Tool brings several benefits:
Enables effortless extraction of text from images, eliminating the need for manual typing.
Compatible with various image formats such as PNG, JPEG, and GIF for versatile usage.
Supports multiple languages including English, French, German, Spanish, and Chinese.
Nonetheless, the OCR feature does come with its set of limitations:
Faces challenges when extracting text from low-quality or unclear images.
Might face difficulty accurately extracting text from handwritten or artistically stylized fonts.
Currently lacks the capability to convert text directly to Excel format.
The upcoming OCR feature in the Snipping Tool is a welcome addition to Windows 11. It will allow users to extract text from images more easily and efficiently. However, it is important to note that the feature is still under development and may not be perfect.
Note: If you are running your PC on Windows 10 or an older Windows version, you will need to update to Windows 11 to use the new OCR feature.
Part 3: How to Use the Windows 11 Snipping Tool’s OCR Feature
In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the process of using the OCR feature in the Windows 11 Snipping Tool to extract text from images. We've included helpful screenshots to make it easy to follow along.
Step 1: Open the Snipping Tool. You can do this by pressing Windows + Shift + S or by searching for “Snipping Tool” in the Start menu.
Step 2: Select the capture mode you want to use. The four capture modes are:
Free-form snip: Allows you to draw a free-form shape around the area you want to capture.
Rectangular snip: Allows you to capture a rectangular area of the screen.
Window snip: Allows you to capture a specific window.
Full-screen snip: Captures the entire screen.
Step 3: Capture the screenshot by clicking and dragging the mouse cursor over the area you want to capture.
Step 4: Once you have captured the screenshot, the Snipping Tool will open the screenshot in a new window.
Step 5: To extract text from the screenshot, click the Text Actions button.
Step 6: The Snipping Tool will detect the text in the screenshot and make it editable.
Step 7: Select the text you want to copy and press Ctrl + C to copy it to the clipboard.
Step 8: You can then paste the copied text into any other application, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
That's it! You've successfully used the OCR feature in the Windows 11 Snipping Tool to extract text from an image. This handy tool can save you time and effort when working with text in images.
Part4: How to Use OCR Feature for Free with WPS PDF
WPS PDF is a versatile PDF editing tool known for its user-friendly interface and powerful features. One of its standout capabilities is the built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature. This allows you to extract text from scanned documents or images, making it editable and searchable. Here are some key advantages:
Conversion to Word and Excel: WPS PDF excels in converting scanned documents into editable Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, saving you time and effort.
Preservation of Formatting: The OCR feature ensures that the original formatting of the text is retained, providing a seamless editing experience.
Multi-Language Support: It supports multiple languages, making it a valuable tool for users worldwide.
How to Use OCR Feature in WPS PDF Editor
Follow these steps to utilize the OCR feature in WPS PDF Editor:
Step 1: Open Your PDF File
Begin by launching WPS PDF and opening the PDF file containing the scanned or image-based content.
Step 2: Activate OCR
In the toolbar, locate and click on the "OCR" button. This initiates the Optical Character Recognition process.
Step 3: Select Language
Choose the language of the text in your document. WPS PDF supports a wide range of languages for accurate text recognition.
Step 4: Adjust OCR Settings (Optional)
If necessary, you can fine-tune OCR settings to enhance accuracy. This includes options for image preprocessing and text recognition.
Step 5: Begin OCR Process
Click on "Start OCR" to commence the recognition process. WPS PDF will analyze the document and extract the text.
Step 6: Review and Edit Text
Once OCR is complete, you can review the extracted text. Make any necessary edits or corrections directly within WPS PDF.
Step 7: Save Your Document
After editing, save your document. You can choose to save it in various formats, including PDF, Word, Excel, and more.
Step 8: Finish and Close
Finally, once you're satisfied with your edits, close WPS PDF. Your document is now ready for use.
With WPS PDF's OCR feature, you can effortlessly convert scanned documents into editable and searchable files, streamlining your document processing tasks.
FAQs
Does Windows 10 have a preinstalled snipping tool?
Yes, Windows 10 comes with a preinstalled snipping tool. It allows users to capture screenshots in various modes, such as full-screen, rectangular, free-form, and window snip. This tool is useful for quickly capturing and saving images of your screen.
How do I save an image from the snipping tool?
To save a screenshot using the Snipping Tool:
Step 1: Capture the screenshot.
Step 2: Click "File" and select "Save As".
Step 3: Choose a location and file name.
Step 4: Select the file format (e.g., PNG).
Step 5: Click "Save".
Done! Your screenshot is saved.
How do I save an image as a PDF file?
To save an image as a PDF file, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the image you want to convert to PDF.
Step 2: Click on "File" in the top-left corner.
Step 3: Select "Print" from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: In the Print dialog box, choose "Microsoft Print to PDF" as the printer.
Step 5: Click on "Print".
Step 6: Choose a location to save the PDF and give it a name.
Step 7: Click "Save".
Your image will be converted to a PDF file and saved in the location you specified.
Summary
In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the functionality of the Snipping Tool in Windows 11, with a special focus on its newly integrated OCR feature. We also introduce WPS PDF as a powerful tool for extracting text from images. Whether you're capturing screenshots or converting text, this guide provides you with the expertise and tools to do so effectively. With an emphasis on WPS PDF, you'll discover a versatile solution for seamless text extraction from images. Happy capturing and converting!
