There are times when we see a piece of text on a photo and video and need to write it down. The usual method is to keep that photo or video open, then type the text into a note-taking app like Evernote or a word processor of your choice. But it takes time, and you have to be very careful when writing things down. Fortunately, there is a way to extract text from images and videos on Mac in seconds. So, if you ever need to copy text from images, videos, or anywhere else, here’s how you can do it.
To note: Currently, this method only works with the English language. It will work with other latin alphabet languages, but you will run into problems with some special characters.
Extract text from images and videos on Mac
Although I only mentioned pictures and videos in the title to keep it succinct, the method I’m about to show you works everywhere. This means you can extract text from Epub readers, PowerPoints, graphics, etc.
To make this possible, we will be using a third-party app called TextSniper. It is a paid application, and you can buy it for $6.49 from developer’s website or $8.99 on the Mac App Store. I’ve been using this app for a month and I can tell you that it hasn’t failed me once and is worth every penny of its price.
That said, let’s move on to our tutorial:
1. Download and install the TextSniper app from the above link and launch it. You will find its icon in the menu bar.
2. Now click on the menu bar icon or press the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + 2.
3. You will see a screenshot like window selection tool. Use it to select the text you want to copy.
4. The the text is now copied to your clipboard, and you can paste it wherever you want. You can see that an inverted comma is missing, but that’s an easy fix.
Copy text from anywhere on Mac
In all my uses, TextSniper has never failed me once. It works like magic, and I’m so glad this app exists. Now, whenever you see information written on a video or photo, you don’t need to type it. Just use TextSniper and you can copy it in seconds.
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