Recommended OCR software?

[Ichinisan]

[edit]
Now that it's out of the way, I need someone to recomomend some good OCR software for my sister. Is there a free/cheap or open-source alternative?
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My sister needs to scan pages of her textbooks into editable text to help her study. She already has the full version of Photoshop (provided by her school) because she is taking classes that require it. I told her about OCR software, so she wants to know if Photoshop has this capability. It doesn't sound like something that I would expect Photoshop to do, but perhaps there is a free plugin or something?

 

[drag]

Not that I am aware of. You'll have to find a seperate program to do that.

Some scanners come bundled with software to do that.

 

[Ichinisan]

Originally posted by: drag
Not that I am aware of. You'll have to find a seperate program to do that.

Some scanners come bundled with software to do that.

thanks, OP updated

 

[corkyg]

This is an area where you get what you payfor. I have been using OCR software since about 1992 - and each upgrade has gotten better. Photoshop won't do it. The current OCR champ - fastest and most accurate, is OmniPage Pro 14 - but definitely not free.

Back in the "old days" - I found that in many cases, editing the OCR product took more of my time than simply type copying directly. Today, OPP 14 is really a whiz and needs almost no editing/correcting.

But - there apparently is some freeware available - I can't vouch for it - but check this out:

OCR

 

[timswim78]

Paperport has been good to me. I got it Free After Rebates at Compusa a few years ago. When i downloaded the drivers for my HP scanner at work, an OCR app was included.

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks, guys. Very helpful!

 

[Rottie]

Don't forgot to check Scansoft's own Textbridge. I used it few times.