Blogs / How to Extract Text from Any Image Quickly?

How to Extract Text from Any Image Quickly?

You may need to extract text from images for a number of different reasons. This process is useful for data entry experts, normal office workers, students, and many other types of individuals.

The exact process used for extracting text from an image can vary depending on the device that you’re using and the platform you’ve opted for. While all types of methods can technically work, some of them are quicker and more efficient than others.

In this post, we’re going to guide you on how you can use some of the best and quickest methods that you can use.

Important to Know: How Does Image to Text Extraction Work?

Before we get to the methods, however, it is important to know how exactly the process works.

Image-to-text extraction utilizes a technology known as OCR. OCR stands for optical character recognition. This technology allows devices and software equipped with it to scan images and recognize the characters written inside them. Then, the characters are extracted and provided in digital formats—such as the text that you’re reading right now.

How Do You Extract Text From Any Image Quickly?

Now that we’re clear on the concept and technology behind image-to-text extraction, let’s move on to how you can perform this process easily. We will look at two different methods so that you can pick the one that suits your needs the best.

Method 1: Use Imagetotextconverter.net

The first method that we’re going to talk about involves our own tool: Imagetotextconverter.net.

This tool provides a number of different features and perks that make it an excellent choice for image-to-text extraction. Below, we will first talk about the steps required to use it before listing its main features.

How to Use Image-to-Text Converter?

Here is how you can have your images converted to text with the help of this tool.

  1. For the first step, enter your image into the tool. Drag and drop them from your device or from any source on the internet, and they will be instantly imported. You can also browse your local storage or use a URL.
    (You can import up to five different images at the same time.)enter image in image to text converter
  2. Once your image(s) has been imported, you can adjust it before starting the text extraction process. You can crop the image to select a specific portion of it, flip it, and rotate it.edit images
  3. After the image has been adjusted, go ahead and click on the “Convert Image to Text” button.
  4. The extraction process will take a few seconds. The text will be provided, and you can copy or download it easily using the provided options.image to text output

Benefits of Using Imagetotextconverter.net

Next up, let’s take a look at what benefits you can get by opting for our tool.

  • Bulk conversion: Our tool allows you to import five images at once. Thanks to this feature, you can convert a large number of images to text in a short period of time.

  • Cropping and editing options: You can crop and edit each individual image before starting the conversion process. With the cropping function, you can cut out the unnecessary or unneeded parts of the image in order to make the extraction process more accurate..

  • Multiple importing methods: Thanks to the multiple importing methods allowed by our tool, you can not only fetch the images that are present on your device but also from the internet.

  • File downloads in different formats: Normally, online tools allow you to download the output text in just one single format such as TXT / Docx or PDF. However, with our tool, you have the option of choosing between not just two, but three different formats. This can be very helpful for users.

Method 2: Use an AI assistant like ChatGPT or Gemini

Moving on, the second method that we’re going to talk about is extracting text from images by using an AI assistant such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

Nowadays, these AI assistants are quite a hot topic. Recently, ChatGPT was upgraded with the GPT-4o model and Gemini was upgraded with “Gemini Advanced.” Considering how many people turn to these tools for their everyday tasks, we thought of mentioning them as image-to-text solutions here as well.

We don’t want to bore you by discussing both of these tools one by one, so we’ll just stick to ChatGPT. It is important to note that the current free version of ChatGPT uses GPT-3.5. However, all free users are given a few uses of the new GPT-4o model. With this model, you can provide images and have them analyzed, etc. However, with GPT-3.5, this is not possible

How to Extract Text Using ChatGPT?

Let’s talk about the steps that you need to follow.

  1. First of all, open up ChatGPT by clicking on this link:
    https://chat.openai.com/
  2. Next, enter your image into the conversation. You can either use the “Attachment 📎” button, or you can simply paste the image using CTRL + V.
  3. Give ChatGPT the command to simply “Extract text from the provided image.edit images
  4. Copy the text to your clipboard.image to text output

And that’s it.

As is the case with the other method that we discussed, there are some unique benefits that you can enjoy when extracting text from images using ChatGPT.

Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Image-to-Text Conversions

Here are some of the benefits of using ChatGPT for this purpose.

  • Customized instructions: When you’re extracting text using ChatGPT, you can provide it with all sorts of custom instructions. For example, you can tell it to only extract a part of the text. Or, you can tell it to extract the text and then translate it before providing it to you. Since it’s an AI assistant, it offers a lot of options in this regard.

  • Speedy and accurate extraction: Another good thing about using ChatGPT is that it is very quick compared to other online tools. In other words, when you’re extracting text using an online tool or a mobile application, the process can take up a bit of time (around 5 to 10 seconds). But with ChatGPT, the process is around 1 – 2 seconds long at most. The extraction is also very accurate, thanks to the advanced AI mechanics behind the process.

  • Various formats supported: You can import images of various formats to ChatGPT. The supported formats include JPG, JPEG, PNG, and so on.

Best Practices for Image-to-Text Conversion

Now let’s talk about some best practices that you should follow when extracting textual information from images. By following these practices, you can make the overall process easier, quicker, and more accurate.

Ensure that the images you use are sharp and clear

The sharper and clearer your images are, the less chances there are of any errors occurring when the text is extracted from them. Blurry images can confuse the OCR engine used by online tools, and they can sometimes mistake similar letters with one another. For example, if the image is not very clear, the tool could recognize two “u’s” to be one “w,” as in “vacuum”.

If you are going to extract text from an important document, you can take some time to edit it using a dedicated application. You can improve the saturation, brightness, sharpness, etc., to make it look clearer.

Ensure that the images are in the correct orientation and direction

While OCR can recognize text written inside images, it can’t accurately extract it if the image is flipped or rotated, etc. In other words, the orientation of the images should be correct and upright.

Even if there is just a minor tilt in the image, it can mess with the recognition of the text. A “Q” could be seen as an “O” and an “L” could be seen as a “V”.

If you are using Imagetotextconverter.net, then image correction is very easy because the tool provides all of these features.

Make sure that you read the text extracted from the images

This practice should never be neglected when you’re extracting text from images. The tools that we’ve mentioned above, as well as other AI tools in general, are quite accurate in the extraction process. However, even then, they can make mistakes. They can sometimes get a word or even a whole phrase wrong during the extraction process.

It is important to always read the text extracted by the tool. This way, you can detect any mistakes or errors that you may have made.

Conclusion

And with that, our blog post comes to an end.

Extracting text from images used to be hard and difficult. But nowadays, thanks to online tools and resources, the process is very easy and straightforward.

In the post above, we’ve looked at how you can perform this process easily using two different methods. If you want to use an online tool, you can try out our Imagetotextconverter.net. There are many different features that it provides, which makes it great to use.

On the other hand, a different method that you can use for the same purpose is ChatGPT (or Gemini). Using ChatGPT for text extraction has its upsides, but it also has its downsides. For example, there are no downloading features or editing options available. But at the same time, the benefits are also quite numerous, such as customized instructions, quick processing, and accurate results.

FAQs

Can OCR tools be used for SVG and WebP images?

Generally, the functionality of OCR tools extends to all types of images, including SVG and WebP. However, this support is not available in all tools on the internet. You have to specifically find one that provides this support.

Can you convert handwritten notes to digital text?

Yes, if you have handwritten notes stored in the form of image files, you can also convert those into text. OCR engines are able to understand the text written by hand, as long as the characters are clearly written.

Can ChatGPT read images?

Yes, ChatGPT can read and analyze images. It can also perform text extraction from images. This functionality was added to ChatGPT in the GPT-4 model. The current GPT-4o also incorporates this function.