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Using Text to Speech (TTS) with PDFs

Scan the text in PDFs to hear it read aloud

Wallis Lavery avatar
Written by Wallis Lavery
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Creating an inclusive classroom and addressing the diverse needs of learners is a challenge educators face daily. Using TTS with PDFs is one way to support teachers and empower students to take ownership of their learning.

How to Use TTS with PDFs

Step 1: Import a PDF file

There are three ways that users can import PDFs into Book Creator:

  1. In a library, select the + New Book button and then select the Import PDF or epub option.

    The image shows a screen with the title "Choose a book shape". There are options for "Blank Books" and "Templates". There are also options for book shapes, including "Portrait 2:3", "Square 1:1", and "Landscape 4:3". There are also options for "Portrait 2:3 Comic", "Square 1:1 Comic", and "Landscape 4:3 Comic". There is a button that says "Import PDF or ePub".

  2. In a library, select the Book options icon and then select the Import PDF or epub option.

    A screenshot shows a menu with the options "Import PDF or ePub", "Move to library", "Copy book", "Translate book", "Combine books", and "Delete book". The text "Show invite code for others to join" is also visible.

  3. Inside a book in edit mode, select the + button > Media tab > Files and choose the PDF you'd like to import.

    A screenshot of a webpage with the text "Page 34 of 34". A menu is open on the right side with the option "Files" highlighted.

Step 2: Scan for Text

Once the PDF is on a page and you are in edit mode, you will need to enable the read aloud functionality.

  1. Select the PDF image on the page and open the inspector menu i or right-click for PDF options.

  2. Select the button Scan for text and choose if you'd like to scan the Current page only or All pages in your book.

  3. You will notice a modal appear in the bottom right corner of the screen indicating the status: Text scanning in progress or Text scanning complete.

A recording showing a PDF that has been imported onto a page. The user clicks on the pen icon in the top right of the page and selects the 'scan for text' option. You can then choose to scan one page or all pages. A pop up appears when the text scanning is complete.

Step 3: Listen to PDF text

Scanning the text allows the text on the PDF to be recognized and read aloud in edit mode.

  1. When you select the PDF on the page again, you will notice the read-to-me speaker icon appear underneath the PDF as the text has been recognized and users can now listen to the text read aloud.

  2. When users select the speaker icon, the text will be highlighted and read aloud in the language that the user's browser is currently in.

  3. When you're listening to your PDF and you select the pause icon, it will immediately pause the reading. If you select the speaker icon again, it will begin reading out loud where you paused. However, if you select pause and then select on anything else before replaying the speaker icon, it will start reading again from the beginning.

    Note: PDFs that have had the text scanned can also be read aloud in Read Mode.

A recording showing the Read to me function. A loudspeaker icon displays at the bottom of the text box. And there's a pause button to pause the read aloud feature.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I edit an imported PDF?

While you cannot edit the text within a PDF directly, you can use the pen tools such as the highlight or eraser and the text will automatically rescan the image to update your changes.

Does TTS work with handwritten text?
Yes! While recognition accuracy may vary, our system can detect and convert many handwritten texts into read out loud content.

What languages does text recognition support?
Text recognition currently supports multiple languages. Check our supported languages page for the full list. The voices used in text to speech are dependent on your operating system and the language voices you have installed. Please refer to your operating system guide for installing new language voices.

Will my original PDF be altered?
No, the original file remains unchanged. We convert the PDF pages into images.

Where did my readable PDF go on imported Book Creator ePubs?

If you export your book as an ePub that has already "Scanned for text" for readability, and you re-import the ePub back into Book Creator, you may notice the read aloud is missing. Don't worry, you will simply need to just "Scan for text" again to re-enable the functionality!

To learn more about using PDF files in Book Creator, check out:

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