Agent skill · creative production · aiskillstore
image-to-text-pdf
Convert a finished raster image, especially a generated poster or visual resume, into an image-based PDF with an additional selectable, copyable, searchable text layer. Use when the image is the final visual layout, when recreating that layout in PPT, HTML, or LaTeX would be fragile, and when the user needs both a final invisible-text PDF and a visible inspection PDF for checking OCR or text-layer placement.
Why this skill is useful
Adds a Python script for generating image-based PDFs with a searchable text layer, which is not commonly available in standard tools.
What it needs
Requires python installed locally. About 2k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 405 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Image to Text PDF Turn a finished raster image into a PDF while preserving the image exactly and adding a transparent text layer for selection, copying, and search. Workflow 1. Get the complete image. Treat the image as the visual source of truth. Keep the original image dimensions; the layout coordinates should use the same pixel coordinate space whenever possible. 2. Build a text-layer layout JSON. Prefer OCR or a vision model that returns text boxes over trying to infer positions manually. Use the user's source text to correct OCR transcription. OCR boxes determine position; the source text determines final copyable content. Read references/ocr-alignment.md when you need guidance for extracting, correcting, or prompting for box-level text. Read references/layout-json.md for the exact JSON schema. 3. Generate both PDFs. For CJK or other non-Latin text, pass a Unicode font: 4. Inspect the debug PDF before delivering. The final PDF should look like the image-only source. The debug PDF should show highlighted text boxes and visible text where the hidden layer will be placed. If a highlighted box is shifted, fix the layout JSON, not the image. If copy/paste text is wrong, fix the text field in layout JSON, not the OCR image. OCR Word Conversion When an OCR tool returns word-level boxes, convert them to line-level layout items: The converter accepts common JSON shapes containing words, items, textAnnotations, or nested page/line/word objects. It groups nearby words into lines and can replace OCR text with the closest line from the source text when the match is strong. Practical Rules Keep text boxes line-level unless a paragraph must be selected as one unit. Line-level boxes are easier to position and debug. Do not try to match the rasterized font exactly. The hidden layer only needs close geometry and correct text. Use the visible inspection PDF as the validation artifact. It should make every embedded text span obvious. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills aiskillstore/image-to-text-pdf