How to Copy Text from an Image

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The Project Naptha Chrome extension makes it easy to extract text from pictures
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There might be a time you just need to copy the text in that funny Internet meme you found on Facebook or Reddit. The problem is, your browser will not let you highlight and copy the text. Luckily, there are ways to do this, the most reliable of which is a Google Chrome extension called Project Naptha. It’s still in its testing stage, but it will save you time by helping you avoid hand-typing every image text you see.

Things You Should Know

  • Install the Project Naptha Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
  • Open your image in a new browser tab and run the Project Naptha extension to make the text selectable.
  • Once you select text on the image, you can paste it into any app or document.
Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Installing

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/86\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/86\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Project Naptha is a Chrome extension that uses visual recognition algorithms to read text that is embedded in images.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Once you’re at the download page, a button with “Free” written on it at the corner of the extension’s description window should be there. Click on it to begin downloading the extension.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The download progress should appear at the bottom of your Chrome browser. Wait for it to finish, and Chrome should automatically install it.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Extracting Text

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It has to be opened in the browser for the extension to be able to read the text. When you’ve found an image, right-click on it.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    ” The image should appear on another tab. Click on the tab to see the full image.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-7-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-7-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-7-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-7-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The cursor should turn into a text-selection cursor, or I-beam, when the text from the image can be highlighted.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-8-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-8-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a3\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-8-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-8-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-9-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-9-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-9-Version-3.jpg\/aid4794856-v4-728px-Copy-Text-from-an-Image-Step-9-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    • Since the project is still in beta stage, it may not guarantee an accurate copy of the text. It also depends on the font of the text you want to copy. Sometimes, texts whose characters are too close together will not copy over accurately.
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      Tips

      • Mac users can also use Project Naptha on their computer, provided that they have Chrome installed. Getting and using Project Naptha is the same process for any operating system so long as you use the Google Chrome browser.
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