How to edit scanned documents?

[Jemmind]

This is not about photography, But I am having no luck with googleing this, can someone tell me how I can edit a scanned document? I have HP Scanjet 3970. I have some job applications that I would like to scan in then fill out and then print so they won't be handwritten. Is that possible??
Thanks,
Julie
PS Or better yet, could I scan them into a program like Paint Shop Pro, and make a transparent layer and add the text in the appropriate places, then print my "answers" on the application itself?

[cyclone]

I think that would be possible. Scan in as a tiff, open up into paint shop pro, and just add text through the text tool. Flatten the file when you are done (layers>merge>merge all). I've done similar things to pdf files before I got adobe acrobat.

Cyclone

[Rob612]

Several options here:

1) Scan and add the text to the image with any postpocessing tool
2) Convert to text with any OCR program available (Omnipage is the best one)
3) Insert the images in a PDF file using the full version of Adobe Acrobat and add the text as comments.

[Citizensmith]

Just to clarify, if its scanned you have a single fixed image. You can't edit the text in the way you can a word document. You can however take steps to fake it as descrobed in the previous posts. I'd recommend the OCR option as adding computer generated text onto a scanned page normally leaves the text sticking out worse than a fat guy at an bulimia convention.

[Jemmind]

Just to clarify, if its scanned you have a single fixed image. You can't edit the text in the way you can a word document. You can however take steps to fake it as descrobed in the previous posts. I'd recommend the OCR option as adding computer generated text onto a scanned page normally leaves the text sticking out worse than a fat guy at an bulimia convention.

I am just doing this to fill out job applications though, so they will look neater and more professional than if I hand write it. So, its not like I am trying to secretly change some document and don't want anyone to know. However I would like it to look nice. I will look for a "OCR" program (even though I have no idea what that means) online and hope it tells me how to use it! ;)
Julie

[Citizensmith]

I am just doing this to fill out job applications though, so they will look neater and more professional than if I hand write it.

That extra information helps.

Don't worry about OCR (Optical Character Recognition) it won't be aby use for what you are trying to do.

Your idea is good, my only concern is a possible loss in image quality of the application form from scanning and then reprinting. My comment about the changes being noticable wasn't a secrecy thing, it was just because perfectly sharp text over fuzzy text doesn't look too proffesional. Good luck getting it right.