How to Make Flashcards From a Textbook Photo

Snap a photo of a vocabulary list and let NextLang read it for you. This guide shows how to turn a textbook page into ready-to-study flashcards for Anki, Quizlet, Mochi, or Brainscape, then export them in a single click.

Studying from what you actually saw on the page has an edge: the picture superiority effect describes how information tied to images is remembered better than text alone. Generating cards straight from a photo keeps that visual link between the page and what you review. Source: the picture superiority effect

1

Open a Generator

Photo to flashcards works in the Anki, Quizlet, Mochi, and Brainscape generators. Pick the one that matches the app you study in.

What to do:

  • Go to Generators and open Anki, Quizlet, Mochi, or Brainscape
  • All four accept a photo as the source - the only difference is the export format you get at the end
  • Photo input is not part of the /all-in-one generator, so choose a single platform here
2

Set Your Languages

Tell the generator what language the page is in and what language you want to study in.

What to do:

  • Select the source language (the language printed in your textbook)
  • Select the target language (the language you want on the other side of the card)
  • Both languages must be among the 20 supported options, from Spanish and French to Japanese, Korean, and Arabic
3

Switch to Upload Image Mode

Each form has a Describe / Upload image toggle. Switch it to Upload image to feed a photo instead of typing a topic.

What to do:

  • Click the Upload image tab at the top of the content section
  • Uploading a photo is a premium feature: it unlocks once you have credits on your account
  • Free accounts see the field locked with an Unlock Feature link to pricing - the rest of the photo flow still works once credits are added
4

Add a Clear Photo of the Page

Drag and drop the photo onto the upload area, or click Choose Image to pick it from your device.

What to do:

  • Accepted formats are JPG, PNG, and WebP, up to 1.25MB per image
  • Shoot the page straight on in good light so the words are sharp and readable - the model reads the text directly from the photo
  • Frame just the vocabulary list, table, or glossary you want, instead of the whole spread, to keep the cards on topic
  • A live preview appears after upload, with a remove button if you picked the wrong page
5

Add Context (Optional)

Use the Additional Context box to steer the result toward the part of the page that matters.

What to do:

  • Point the model at a specific section, for example 'only the bold terms' or 'the irregular verbs table'
  • Name the topic or chapter so translations and example sentences stay in the right domain
  • Leave it blank to let the generator pull vocabulary from the whole image
6

Choose Card Count and Generate

Set how many cards to create, then run the generator. One credit is used per generation.

What to do:

  • Use the slider to pick between 5 and 30 cards (the free tier caps at 15)
  • Click the Generate button for your platform and wait while the photo is read and turned into term and translation pairs
  • Each run consumes one credit, whatever the card count
7

Review, Edit, and Export

Check the generated cards against the page, fix anything, and download in your app's format.

What to do:

  • Read each card against the photo - confirm spelling, accents, and that the translation matches the source term
  • Click any card to edit the front or back, or add an example before exporting
  • Download a native package (.apkg for Anki, .mochi for Mochi) or a CSV/TSV file, then import it into your app
  • The result is saved to your dashboard, so you can re-download the package later without regenerating

Pro Tips for Sharper Cards

The quality of the photo decides the quality of the deck. These tips help the generator read the page cleanly and keep your cards on topic.

Light It Well, Shoot It Flat

Readable text is the single biggest factor in card quality. Bright, even light and a straight-on angle beat any post-processing.

Example:

Lay the book flat near a window and hold the phone parallel to the page, instead of shooting at an angle in a dim room.

Crop to One Topic

A tight crop around a single list or table keeps the deck focused and avoids unrelated words sneaking in.

Example:

Photograph just the 'kitchen vocabulary' box rather than the entire two-page spread with exercises and images.

Stay Under the Size Limit

Images must be 1.25MB or smaller. Modern phone photos are often larger, so resize or compress before uploading.

Example:

Export the photo at a smaller resolution, or use your phone's built-in crop, to bring a 4MB shot down under the limit.

Use the Context Box

A one-line instruction is the fastest way to control which words become cards and how they are translated.

Example:

Add 'focus on the highlighted nouns, beginner level' to skip the example sentences printed around them.

Verify Names and Accents

Always check the output against the page. Accents, diacritics, and proper nouns are the most common things to double-check.

Example:

Confirm that 'el', 'la', accents on Spanish words, or kana readings match exactly what is printed in the book.

Split Big Pages Into Batches

A dense glossary is easier to handle as a few smaller photos than one crowded image.

Example:

Shoot the A to M terms and the N to Z terms separately, generate each, and combine the decks in your app.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If a photo does not turn into the cards you expected, one of these fixes usually solves it.

The Upload image field is locked

Solution: Photo input is a premium feature. Add credits from the pricing page and the upload area unlocks - the Describe mode stays available for free.

The photo will not upload

Solution: Check the format and size. Only JPG, PNG, and WebP up to 1.25MB are accepted. Resize or compress a large phone photo before trying again.

Some words from the page are missing

Solution: Blur, glare, or a wide crop can hide text. Retake the photo straight on in good light, crop to the relevant section, and name the area in the context box.

Translations are in the wrong language

Solution: Set the source language to what is printed on the page and the target language to what you want to learn, then regenerate.

Cards mix in exercises or captions

Solution: Crop to just the vocabulary list before shooting, or use the context box to tell the generator which part of the image to read.

Handwriting or stylized fonts come out wrong

Solution: Printed text reads most reliably. For handwritten notes or decorative fonts, photograph smaller chunks and review every card closely before exporting.

Where to Go Next

Pick Your Platform

The photo flow is the same in each generator - the export format is what differs
  • Anki for a native .apkg package with spaced repetition
  • Quizlet for quick import via CSV or TSV
  • Mochi for a native .mochi package
  • Brainscape for confidence-based repetition

Unlock Photo Input

Uploading images is a premium feature
  • Free accounts can use Describe mode without credits
  • Adding credits unlocks photo input and raises the card cap from 15 to 30 per generation
  • One credit is spent per generation, whatever the count
  • See pricing for credit packs

Turn Your Next Page Into a Deck

Photograph a vocabulary list and have study-ready flashcards in minutes

Start From a PhotoAnki Deck Best Practices