Many teachers and universities ask for a single PDF, but assignments are often handwritten. The easy answer is to photograph each page with your phone and join the pictures into one file. This guide covers how to take clear photos, how to build the PDF, and how to keep it small enough to upload.
Step 1: Take Clear Photos
- Put the page on a flat surface in good light, ideally near a window.
- Hold the phone directly above the page so the edges are straight.
- Avoid shadows from your hand or phone.
- Take the pages in order, and take one extra photo if a page looks blurry.
- Zoom into each photo and check that small writing is readable.
Step 2: Use a Supported Image Format
PaperDesk Image to PDF accepts JPG, JPEG and PNG. Some newer iPhones save photos as HEIC, which the tool does not support. To avoid this, open Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and choose “Most Compatible”. On Android, photos are normally already JPG.
Step 3: Create the PDF
- Open Image to PDF.
- Tap or click “Choose Images” and select all your page photos.
- Check the list. Pages are created in the order shown.
- Press “Convert to PDF”. A file named paperdesk-images.pdf downloads.
Each photo gets its own A4 page. It is centered and scaled to fit with a small margin, without being stretched.
Step 4: Check the Order and Quality
- Scroll through the PDF and confirm every page is there and upright.
- Zoom in on the writing to make sure it is readable.
- If a page is in the wrong place, run the tool again and select the photos in the correct order.
Step 5: Make the File Smaller if Needed
Phone photos are large, so the PDF can be big. If the portal has a size limit, use Compress PDF. This works well for photos of pages. The text in the compressed file is a picture, so it cannot be selected, which is normal for handwritten notes. Our guide on reducing PDF size explains the options in more detail.
Common Questions
Can I add a typed cover page?
Yes. Save the cover page as a PDF, then join it with your photo PDF using Merge PDF.
Why is the PDF so large?
The photos are placed at their original quality, and phone photos can be several megabytes each. Compress the PDF afterwards.
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is created inside your browser. You can read more in our Privacy Policy.