Music Scanning

Tips 'n' Trix

Tip:
Scan music into Finale or Sibelius from a PDF file.

The issue:
Many publishers are now supplying downloadable music in PDF format. What if you want to transpose it to a different key? The built-in "Lite" scanning software in both Finale and Sibelius will not let you open a PDF.

Start PhotoScore Professional. Select a PDF file by going to File>Open.

When PhotoScore specifies a recommended DPI resolution, accept it. If you don't get a good interpretation, try it again with a higher or lower DPI setting.

Allow PhotoScore to read and interpret the PDF. Don't worry about any perception errors it makes at this point.

Correct the errors later in Finale or Sibelius.

If you want to send it to Sibelius for transposition just click the "Make into Sibelius document" icon on PhotoScore's toolbar.

If you want to send it to Finale for transposition, select "Save As..." from PhotoScore's File menu, and select "MusicXML" as the format. Give it a filename. The extension "XML" will be added at the end.
Now go to Finale's File menu and select MusicXML> Import and open the file you saved in PhotoScore.

Visit the PhotoScore Pro page on Tempo's website

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