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I have a scanned document in PDF format. Before scanning some of the text on the document was marked over using a black marker. It was done in such a way that the text underneath the black marker lines is almost unreadable. Can anyone please guide me as to how I can erase those marker lines completely and make the text visible.
Welcome to TG.
I think what you are asking is only possible in Movies.
A scanner can not distinguish between printed text and applied marker ink.
Just like a digital photo, it records only light intensity.
You cannot reveal the text beneath, but if you know what the text spells, you can artificially paint a similar background over the hidden areas and repaint the missing text.
I have actually seen this happen. A scanned document was so prefectly cleared that the text underneath was clearly visible. I just wanted to find out how that can be acheived. Would the healing brush help?
The Healing Brush tool allows you to fix image imperfections such as scratches, blemishes, etc. By sampling the surrounding area or using a predefined pattern you can blend the imperfections into the rest of the image.
The healing brush is a great tool, but it would not do what you are asking.
I am unaware of any technique where a document has been defaced with black marker over black text could have the marker ink cleared away to reveal the text beneath.
Scanning creates a raster image, saved to a PDF simply embeds the bitmap.
Even an OCR would not handle such conditions.
Perhaps another member has come across a technique that could be shared?
if you can read the text do as Steve suggests - mask over the affected area and remake - job done, document cleaned
if you can't read the text - do you have the paper document that was scanned?
edited
As Steve suggests, you could possibly recreate the text by guessing what was originally there. However, erasing the black marker from the original black text off a scan is not possible with current technology as far as I know.
Working with a scanned image, best guess is the only way to make the text readable.
With the original document and a very well equiped physics and optics laboratory you might be able to isolate the text if it was written in ink and not printed using a laser printer.
Destiny I zoomed in on a small section from your example to illustrate how a scanner can only 'see' light intensity and create a digitized result from that.Quote:
Originally Posted by DestinyIsCallin
It would be quite impossible to digitally remove the black marker from the text on the paper from such an image. Unless you know what the text says, you would not be able to recreate it.
However, of course, if you do know what the text says, then you'd simply retype such a simple document.
Thank you for your help everyone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
you can also use partially destructive methods on the original document [eg solvents] to try to bring out the original text to visibility if it is that important.... sometimes indentation of the paper can be used - but this sort of thing is sample dependent and is a forensic specialityQuote:
Originally Posted by Soquili
Quite so, provided the original document was available.
Being as the OP's opening comment was "I have a scanned document in PDF format.", suggests the only copy available (to them) was the scanned one.
Hopefully, the poster had a legitimate reason for wanting to reveal the blacked out textual content. TG might get in all sorts of trouble if collectively a private document was revealed through members efforts.
does it - perhaps DIC was just looking for a quick CG fix
you can isolate the individual RGB values and illiminate the ones you don't want - may even be scripts or programs to do this, but you would still need to fill in the gaps, assuming you were left with an understandable unambiguous pattern - it would not be easy - its not the way to go
anyone who thinks that covering text with a marker pen is secure is no chemist or physicist - its amazing sometimes what you can see simply by turning the paper round and holding it up to the right sort of light...... this is not a secret....:rolleyes:
Yes, I'm certain of it.
then you know something I don't - enough said ;)
Oh, God. No, there wasn't an ulterior motive or any trouble-inducing purpose. That was just for personal learning purposes.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by sledger
OK, since people say it's pretty much not possible to erase the marker crossing-out, let's say I know the text underneath. How do I recreate it over the crossed-out parts? In the same format as the image.
Do you know what all the text says Destiny?
Yes, I do.
I'm missing something here ....... If you know what the text is, why can't you just type it out again. What are you trying to achieve with the final version?
Exactly :confused: