Make PDFs Look Printed & Scanned
Grainy is an app and web tool that turns clean digital documents into files that look printed, signed, and scanned — without needing a printer or scanner.
It adds realistic imperfections like noise, texture, slight rotation, and subtle aging so your documents feel physical rather than perfectly digital.
Get Grainy on iPhone & iPad
Grainy is available as a dedicated iPhone app that runs fully offline on your device — no uploads required.
Download Grainy on the App Store.
The iOS version is faster, smoother, and designed specifically for mobile workflows.
Make a PDF Look Scanned on iPhone
If you’re working on an iPhone or iPad, the Grainy app lets you create a realistic printed-and-scanned look directly on your device.
Unlike web tools, the app processes files locally and runs entirely offline. This makes it ideal for contracts, signed documents, forms, and other files that need to look scanned before submission.
What Grainy Does
Grainy simulates the visual artifacts of real-world documents, including:
- Scanner noise and grain
- Slight rotation and misalignment
- Paper texture and shading
- Subtle wear and aging
- Optional grayscale or low-fi looks
The result looks like a document that’s been handled, printed, and scanned — not a pristine PDF.
Why Use Grainy?
Sometimes platforms, offices, or workflows expect documents to look scanned, even when they start digitally.
Grainy is useful when you need to:
- Submit paperwork that expects a scanned look
- Add a realistic “print → scan” feel
- Avoid unnecessary printing and rescanning
- Create aged or distressed document aesthetics
- Share documents that feel more natural and analog
Grainy focuses on appearance. It doesn’t replace a scanner — it replaces the illusion of one.
How It Works
- Import a PDF or image
- Adjust the scan effect until it looks right
- Add a signature or mark if needed
- Export your finished document
You can preview and fine-tune the look before exporting.
Designed for Real-World Use
Grainy outputs are optimized to:
- Stay reasonably small for emailing and uploads
- Remain readable
- Look authentic rather than over-processed
Privacy & Files
- Files are used only to provide the requested processing
- Files are not manually reviewed
- Files are deleted after a limited time
- File contents are not sold or published
For full details, see the Privacy Policy.
About
Grainy is built by Ambitious Analytics Labs, the creators of SuperTool.org — a collection of practical tools for working with PDFs, images, and data.
Get Grainy Today
Create realistic printed-and-scanned PDFs directly on your device.