From Images to Text: Working with OCR
In Person
Do you need to analyse text in your research, but only have images or scanned PDFs to work with? This 2-session course is an introduction to extracting text from images using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) techniques.
In the course, we will give you an overview of text extraction, demonstrate how OCR works in practice, using free, ready-to-use tools that are widely available. In addition, we will discuss potential challenges you might face performing OCR and explore ways to address these challenges using R and Python OCR modules. Participants will leave the workshop with skills to use OCR in their own projects.
This course will be taught by Joy Lan.
After taking part in this event, you may decide that you need some further help in applying what you have learnt to your research. If so, you can book a Data Surgery meeting with one of our training fellows.
More details about Data Surgeries.
Those who have registered to take part will receive an email with full details on how to get ready for this course.
If you’re new to this training event format, or to CDCS training events in general, read more on what to expect from CDCS training. Here you will also find details of our cancellation and no-show policy, which applies to this event.
Level
This is a beginner-friendly course. No previous knowledge of the topic is required, and the trainer will cover the basics of the method.
If you are new to R and Python, do not worry, we have created an easy-to-use link that will allow you to visualise and play around with the code for this course. If you want to learn the basics of Python or R, you can take our introductory courses Getting Started with Python for Research and Getting Started with R for Research.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of how OCR works and its key features
- Apply ready-to-use OCR tools to extract text from images and PDFs
Recognise potential challenges in OCR projects and employ appropriate strategies to address them
Skills
By attending this course, you will familiarise yourself with the following skills
- Extracting text from images and scanned PDFs
- Preparing and cleaning OCR data for analysis
- Using free, out-of-the-box OCR tools for research
- Perform basic image/file OCR processing with R or Python
Explore More Training
- Collecting Data from the Web: Foundation of Webscraping
- Foundations of Sentiment Analysis. Silent Disco
- Silent Disco: Computer Vision for the Humanities: An Introduction to Deep Learning for Image Classification
Return to the Training Homepage to see other available events
Room 4.35, Edinburgh Futures Institute
This room is on Level 4, in the North East side of the building.
When you enter via the level 2 East entrance on Middle Meadow Walk, the room will be on the 4th floor straight ahead.
When you enter via the level 2 North entrance on Lauriston Place underneath the clock tower, the room will be on the 4th floor to your left.
When you enter via the level 0 South entrance on Porters Walk (opposite Tribe Yoga), the room will be on the 4th floor to your right.
