Convert and Tag Image-Based PDFs for Compliance with Accessibility Laws
Meta Description:
Tired of dealing with non-searchable, non-compliant PDFs? Here's how I used VeryPDF to tag and convert image-based PDFs for accessibility compliance.
Every scanned PDF was a nightmare until this
Ever get sent one of those scanned contracts that's basically just a photo?
You can't search it.
You can't copy-paste.
And forget about accessibilityit's completely off the radar.
A few years back, I worked with a government contractor who handed me a USB full of scanned financial reports. They were all image-based PDFsno text layer, no tags, and definitely not compliant with accessibility standards like PDF/UA or WCAG.
Problem was, these reports had to be submitted to a regulatory body that required accessibility compliance. We were on the clock.
That was the moment I went searching for a tool that could not only OCR the files, but tag them correctly so screen readers could actually make sense of them.
The tool that changed everything: VeryPDF PDF Solutions for Developers
After trying half a dozen solutionssome that crashed with large files, some that missed the text entirelyI landed on VeryPDF PDF Solutions for Developers.
This wasn't just another "PDF to Word" tool.
It was built specifically for developers who needed enterprise-level control over PDFsbatch processing, OCR, tagging, validation, and automation.
And let me be clear: this thing delivered.
Why VeryPDF worked when others failed
Here's what made it a game-changer:
1. Advanced OCR that doesn't choke on messy scans
Most tools I tried gave me gibberish when the scan quality was low.
VeryPDF? It uses ABBYY FineReader Engine, which is the Rolls-Royce of OCR.
It handled poor lighting, rotated text, and even handwritten notes on margins like a pro.
I used the OCR feature to:
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Turn 400+ image-based PDFs into searchable documents
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Add hidden text layers without changing how the document looked
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Recognise multiple languages across international filings
No other tool gave me this kind of accuracy at scale.
2. Automated tagging for accessibility compliance
Here's where most OCR tools tap out.
They give you text. But that's not enough for screen readers.
You need document structuretags that tell assistive tech what's a heading, what's a paragraph, what's a table.
VeryPDF let me:
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Auto-tag documents with a logical reading order
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Insert accessibility metadata for PDF/UA
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Prep everything for PDF/A compliance
In one case, I had a 56-page scanned contract that needed to be accessible to a client using a screen reader.
Previously, this meant days of manual tagging.
With VeryPDF, I ran it through the tool, reviewed the structure visually, and it was done in under 30 minutes.
That's the kind of speed you don't get unless the tech actually understands the assignment.
3. Validation tools that don't just throw errorsthey tell you why
When you're aiming for compliance, it's not enough to just "hope for the best."
You need to know your PDF is good to go.
VeryPDF gave me detailed validation reports, showing:
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Exactly where the structure failed
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Metadata problems
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Tagging inconsistencies
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Errors based on PDF/UA and WCAG standards
These reports came in JSON and XML, so I could feed them into our internal QA tools.
For a compliance-heavy workflow, this was a godsend.
Real talk: Who needs this tool?
If you're:
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A government agency dealing with scanned archives
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A legal team submitting PDFs to the court
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A university digitising years of academic records
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A financial institution trying to meet international reporting standards
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Or a developer who's tired of PDF tools that act like toys
Then this isn't optionalit's necessary.
Most accessibility laws are tightening up.
The EU, the US, Australiathey all have mandates now.
You can't afford to submit half-baked PDFs anymore.
The pain of using other tools
Here's what I hit before switching:
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Adobe Acrobat Pro: Great for small jobs. Not built for batch processing or automation.
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Free OCR tools: Missing structure. Missing metadata. Missing accuracy.
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Open-source options: Needed hours of tweaking just to get the OCR decent.
Only VeryPDF gave me:
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High-volume batch OCR
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Auto-tagging
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Full accessibility validation
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A proper API for automation
And I didn't have to baby it. It just ran.
Here's how it saved me from a compliance disaster
In one project, I had 1,200 scanned documents to process.
The deadline was tight.
The accessibility standard was strict.
And the client was watching every move.
I used VeryPDF to:
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OCR and tag all the documents
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Run accessibility validation on every file
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Auto-generate compliance reports
The whole process?
Took me three days.
It would've taken three weeks without it.
Client was impressed.
We passed the audit.
And I started recommending VeryPDF to every developer I knew.
My take
Lookthere are a million PDF tools out there.
Most of them are built for casual users.
VeryPDF is for people who need control.
If your work involves:
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High-stakes document handling
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Accessibility compliance
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OCR and automation at scale
Then stop messing around with consumer-grade tools.
Use the one that actually works.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone who deals with large volumes of PDFs, especially scanned ones.
Start your free trial now and boost your productivity:
Custom development services by VeryPDF
Got unique document workflows or compliance needs?
VeryPDF offers tailored development services for Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile platforms, and the cloud.
Their team can:
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Build custom PDF tools using Python, C#, JavaScript, .NET, and more
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Develop Virtual Printer Drivers to capture print jobs and convert to PDF, EMF, or TIFF
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Set up OCR pipelines, barcode processing, document tagging, and accessibility workflows
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Create solutions for monitoring Windows API calls for file access and print tracking
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Provide cloud-based tools for conversion, signatures, and document management
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Implement PDF/A, PDF/UA, WCAG validation, and digital security features
Need something built just for you?
Get in touch: https://support.verypdf.com/
FAQs
1. Can VeryPDF convert image-only PDFs into searchable, tagged documents?
Yes. With built-in OCR and structure tagging, it can turn scanned PDFs into fully accessible documents.
2. Is this tool suitable for high-volume processing?
Absolutely. It's built to handle bulk conversions and validation with performance in mind.
3. Does VeryPDF support automation?
Yes. You can use their API or CLI tools to integrate into any workflow or backend system.
4. Can I validate PDF/UA and WCAG compliance with this tool?
Yes, and it gives detailed reports in JSON/XML formats so you can track issues easily.
5. Is it compatible with multiple languages?
Yes. The OCR supports multilingual documents, making it ideal for international teams.
Tags / Keywords
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Convert image-based PDFs for accessibility
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PDF/UA compliance tools
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OCR and tag scanned PDFs
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Accessibility for scanned documents
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Batch PDF OCR and validation
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Screen reader-ready PDF conversion
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PDF/A and WCAG compliance
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Developer tools for PDF processing
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VeryPDF PDF solutions for developers