Scanning a document, filling it in + printing

[skyblue]

SUP GEEKHACKERS,

This is the only real 'tech' forums I frequent so I thought I would post this here.

I have to deal with a lot of work-related forms and rather than fill them out by hand I would rather type (duh!) in the required info and print it out.

So:

1) I have hard copies of the form that I've scanned to my PC (image format)

2) I'm looking for a way to type in the info, then have it print onto the hardcopies that are loaded into the printer.

Is this even possible? Does anyone know how I can make this happen? Thanks for any help!

[bpiphany]

Use a layered image format in your image editor of choice. Print the text on a separate layer from the scan of the document. There will surely be some tweaking to get everything to scale, but that should only be the first couple of tries.

[skyblue]

Thanks Valium, do you have any recommendation for a simple image editor?

[bpiphany]

Gimp, perhaps not simple but it is free and usually does what I need it to, and is available for Linux (and Windows too!).

[The Solutor]

Thanks Valium, do you have any recommendation for a simple image editor?

I use paint.net for this very purpose.

Btw i prefer to have the scanned form saved on my pc then place the text on it with paint.net and print directly on a white sheet

[nrd]

I'm looking for a way to type in the info, then have it print onto the hardcopies that are loaded into the printer.

Is this even possible? Does anyone know how I can make this happen? Thanks for any help!

The most versatile solution would be to use Word (or a similar word processor) and create a template for each of your forms by adding pre-formatted text boxes on a blank page (where your text should go on the form after printing). Then fill your details in and print it directly onto the actual form. That way you only have to set it up once and you can format every part of your form details to your liking (different fonts, sizes, weights, ...) and then just re-use the whole thing everytime you have to fill out the same form again.

Depending on how complex the forms are (and how many/how often you have to fill them out) that's what I'd do. If it's just a simple form (and/or you don't have to do it often), doing it with an image editor might be quicker.

[skyblue]

The most versatile solution would be to use Word (or a similar word processor) and create a template for each of your forms by adding pre-formatted text boxes on a blank page (where your text should go on the form after printing). Then fill your details in and print it directly onto the actual form. That way you only have to set it up once and you can format every part of your form details to your liking (different fonts, sizes, weights, ...) and then just re-use the whole thing everytime you have to fill out the same form again.

Depending on how complex the forms are (and how many/how often you have to fill them out) that's what I'd do. If it's just a simple form (and/or you don't have to do it often), doing it with an image editor might be quicker.

This sounds like it'll be an easier long-term solution.. Is there a way to use the scanned form as a "back drop" in Word so I know exactly where to put the text boxes?

[nrd]

Yes, I'm not sure what it's called in English (using the German version atm), but in the menu bar you should have something like "Page Layout" → "Page Color" → "Fill Effects" and there you should find a "Picture" tab where you can select a file from your PC to use as the page background.

Might be hidden in a different menu if you're using an older version of Word, but the functionality should exist in pretty much all versions back to Word 97 or so.