> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://afterword.gitbook.io/afterword-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://afterword.gitbook.io/afterword-docs/importing-your-highlights/scan-physical-highlights.md). # Scan Physical Highlights Point your camera at a highlighted line in a physical book and AfterWord will pull the text out automatically — no typing required. ### Step 1: Open the Scan tool From the Upload tab, tap Scan Highlight to open the camera. ### Step 2: Center the highlighted line in the gold frame Hold your phone so the highlighted passage sits inside the gold guide rectangle, then tap the shutter button. Change hint settings For the best results: * Center the text fully inside the gold rectangle — text that runs outside the frame gets cropped out before AfterWord ever reads it. * Use good lighting. Natural daylight or a bright room works best; in low light, tap the flashlight icon to turn on your camera's torch. * Hold the phone flat and steady, directly above the page, rather than at an angle — this avoids the blur and distortion that causes misreads. ### Step 3: Review and save AfterWord reads the photo and fills in the highlight text automatically. 2. Check the extracted text carefully, especially if you see a low confidence warning — fix any typos before saving. 3. Add the book title (required), and optionally the author, page number, a personal note, and tags. 4. Tap Save Highlight. What to expect * A gold frame guides you to center just the highlighted line — AfterWord reads whatever falls inside it, so anything outside the frame won't be picked up. * Scans are limited to 100 per week per account. If you hit the limit, it resets the following Monday. * Low-confidence reads are flagged for review — always double check the text before saving. Troubleshooting If a scan comes back empty or garbled, see the FAQ & Troubleshooting page. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://afterword.gitbook.io/afterword-docs/importing-your-highlights/scan-physical-highlights.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `build a script that syncs our docs to a CMS` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.