Full-page OCR reflow vs in-place correction: two ways to edit a scan
Short answer: Full-page reflow recognizes the scanned page as text, lets you edit it like a Word file, and lays the page out again in new fonts. In-place correction changes only the characters you need and keeps the original pixels everywhere else. Reflow suits large rewrites; in-place correction suits small, precise corrections.
Two approaches
Full-page reflow: the whole page is recognized and turned into editable text objects. After you edit, the software lays the text out again. Most PDF editors handle scans this way. Adobe Acrobat’s help explains that when you edit a scan, text recognition runs first and the new text is matched to the original font as closely as possible.
In-place correction: only the text you want to change is located. The strokes of those characters are erased and the new text is drawn to match the original ink. The rest of the page is still the original scanned pixels.
Comparison
| Aspect | Full-page reflow | In-place correction |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of change | The whole page or paragraph becomes new text objects | Only the target text |
| Font | The recognized font or a substitute; unchanged text may also change | New text approximates the original ink; unchanged text stays as it is |
| Layout | Line spacing, line breaks and table widths may change | Unchanged |
| Print texture | Unchanged parts also become sharp vector text | Paper texture, grain and original blur are kept |
| Best for | Large rewrites, files you will keep editing | Small precise corrections, batch replacement, putting translations back into the page |
| Effect of recognition errors | Misread characters appear on the page | Only the matched positions are affected; other text is not touched |
Why a scan cannot be edited like a Word file
Text on a PDF page is placed character by character at coordinates, without the paragraph flow of Word. A scan has no text at all, only an image. PDF-XChange staff have also explained in their forum that coordinate-based PDF content makes automatic find and replace complex. Canva’s help says a scanned PDF is imported as one whole image, and its text cannot be edited directly.
So “editing a scan” really means choosing one of two things: generate the text again, or change the image.
How to choose
- To change more than half a page or rewrite sentences: use an editor that reflows the page.
- To change a few words, stay consistent with the original, or process files in batch: use in-place correction.
Neither approach replaces the question of whether you have the right to change the file. For signed or officially issued files, PDF Text Replacer limits changes according to its risk levels.
Sources
- Adobe Acrobat Help: Edit scanned PDFs (Traditional Chinese) · Checked on 2026-10-14
- Canva Help: Import and edit PDFs (scans are imported as a single image) · Checked on 2026-10-14
- PDF-XChange forum: PDF content is placed by coordinates, which makes automatic find and replace complex · Checked on 2026-10-14