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Using Scan Thing’s Interface

Scan Thing has a simple, easy-to-use visual interface as well as a number of keyboard shortcuts to speed up how you work.

The Toolbar

Use the zoom buttons to see larger or smaller versions of your image.

Use the Objects | Text tab control to switch between scanning modes. When you choose Text, the Language drop-down button will appear. Click the button to select the language you want Scan Thing to use for text recognition.

Once you’ve extracted an object or some text, the Copy button will change to its active color, indicating that you can click it. To copy your extracted object or recognized text to the system’s clipboard, click the Copy button.

Click the the Share button to bring up a number of export options.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut
Switch scanning modes Tab
Open images or PDF documents ⌘ Command O
Paste images or PDF documents ⌘ Command V
Cancel scanning Escape
Copy extracted object ⌘ Command C
Select all recognized text ⌘ Command A
Copy selected recognized text ⌘ Command C
Save an extracted object or selected recognized text ⌘ Command S
Clear an extracted object or recognized text Escape
Remove the source image Delete
Minimise Scan Thing’s window ⌘ Command M
Enter full-screen view ^ Control ⌘ Command C
Hide Scan Thing ⌘ Command H
Open Scan Thing's preferences ⌘ Command comma(,)
Quit Scan Thing ⌘ Command Q

Extracting Objects From Images and Documents

With Scan Thing, you can extract objects from their backgrounds in both images and PDF documents.

Adding an Image

Change the scanning mode to Objects by using the tab control in the toolbar.

Find the image you want to use. Click and drag the image onto the Scan Thing window. If Scan Thing can accept the image, the drag preview will show a green plus icon. Release the left mouse button.

Alternatively, select File -> Add Image or Document from the menu at the top of the screen and choose an image.

Or copy an image from elsewhere, click on the Scan Thing window, then choose Edit -> Paste from the menu at the top of your screen.

Selecting a Portion to Extract

Left click and drag to select the portion of the image that contains the object you want to extract.

Note: to cancel an extraction command, hit Escape on the keyboard.

Exporting an Extracted Object

Left click and drag the extracted object to another app or your desktop.

Alternatively choose File -> Share from the menu at the top of the screen or click the Share button in the toolbar.

Or to copy an extracted object to the clipboard:

  • Type ⌘ Command C on the keyboard or

  • Click the Copy button in the toolbar or

  • Select Edit -> Copy from menu at the top of your screen.

Clearing an Extracted Object

To return to the source image:

  • Type Escape on the keyboard or

  • Select Edit -> Clear from menu at the top of your screen.

Removing the Source Image

To remove the source image from the window:

  • Type Delete on the keyboard or

  • Select Edit -> Delete from menu at the top of your screen.

Extracting Text From Images and Documents

With Scan Thing, you can extract text from both images and PDF documents.

Adding an Image or Document

Change the scanning mode to Text by using the tab control in the toolbar.

Find the image you want to use. Click and drag the image onto the Scan Thing window. If Scan Thing can accept the image or document, the drag preview will show a green plus icon. Release the left mouse button.

Alternatively, select File -> Add Image or Document from the menu at the top of the screen and choose an image or document.

Or copy an image or document from elsewhere, click on the Scan Thing window, then choose Edit -> Paste from the menu at the top of your screen.

Selecting a Block of Text To Recognize

Left click and drag to select the portion of the image or document you want to scan.

Note: to cancel a text-recognition command, hit Escape on the keyboard.

Selecting Recognized Text

Once the recognized text appears:

  • Left click and drag to select some or all of the text.

  • Type ⌘ Command Aon the keyboard or

  • Select Edit -> Select All from menu at the top of your screen.

Copying Recognized Text

To copy the recognized text you selected:

  • Right click the selected text and choose Copy.

  • Type ⌘ Command C on the keyboard or

  • Select Edit -> Copy from menu at the top of your screen.

Clearing Recognized Text

To return to the source image:

  • Type Escape on the keyboard or

  • Select Edit -> Clear from menu at the top of your screen.

Removing the Source Image or Document

To remove the source image from the window:

  • Type Delete on the keyboard or

  • Select Edit -> Delete from menu at the top of your screen.

Creating a PDF

With Scan Thing, you can convert photo documents that don't have any selectable text into searchable PDFs that contain all of the text as well as the images of the original document.

Exporting to PDF

Change the scanning mode to Text by using the tab control in the toolbar. Select the appropriate recognition language using the Language button. Then click the PDF button.