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Taking Photos with the Camera

The fastest way to capture a freight document is to photograph it directly with your iPhone or iPad camera.

How to Capture a Document​

  1. Open DocSnap and tap the Capture tab
  2. Tap Take Photo
  3. Position the document within the camera frame
  4. Tap the shutter button to capture the image
  5. Review the photo -- tap Use Photo to proceed or Retake to try again
  6. Add a descriptive title (optional but recommended)
  7. Tap Upload to send the document for OCR processing

Tips for Best Results​

Lighting​

  • Use natural or bright overhead lighting
  • Avoid shadows falling across the document
  • Avoid direct glare from glossy surfaces

Positioning​

  • Hold the camera directly above the document (not at an angle)
  • Ensure the entire document is visible in the frame
  • Leave a small margin around the edges

Focus​

  • Tap the screen to focus on the document text
  • Wait for the camera to auto-focus before capturing
  • Keep your hands steady -- rest elbows on a surface if needed

Document Condition​

  • Flatten creased or folded documents before photographing
  • If the document has multiple pages, photograph each page separately
  • Remove any clips or staples that obscure text

After Capture​

Once you tap Upload, the document is sent to the server for OCR processing. This typically takes a few seconds. You'll be taken to the document detail view where you can watch the processing status:

  • Queued -- waiting for processing to begin
  • Processing -- OCR is actively extracting text
  • Completed -- text has been extracted and is ready to view

The app automatically polls for updates, so you don't need to refresh manually.

Supported Devices​

Any iPhone or iPad with a rear camera running iOS 17 or later. Front-facing cameras are not supported for document capture.