Improve capture quality first
- Use lined or dot templates: Horizontal guides keep baselines steady—OCR likes that.
- Pick a medium pen weight: Avoid ultra-thin strokes that can break; avoid thick strokes that blob letters.
- Write in short blocks: Pause between paragraphs; conversion handles chunks better than walls of text.
App and export settings
- Language pack: Download the correct handwriting language (reMarkable/Boox support multiple).
- Convert before export: Built-in converters (Scribe, reMarkable) usually beat third-party scans.
- Clean margins: Avoid edge scribbles; they can confuse line detection.
Quick troubleshooting
- Spacing errors: Increase line spacing or use a wider-ruled template.
- Misread characters: Slow slightly; keep “a/o” closed and “i/l/1” distinct.
- Sketches + text: Separate sketches onto their own page; OCR will skip them less often.
Shopping for a device with strong handwriting conversion? Check our Best Digital Notebooks guide where we note OCR strengths per model.