---
title: OCR Accuracy
description: Understanding TexPixel recognition accuracy and how to get the best results
slug: ocr-accuracy
date: 2026-03-25
tags: [accuracy, tips]
order: 5
---

# OCR Accuracy

TexPixel achieves industry-leading accuracy on mathematical formula recognition — but accuracy isn't uniform across all input types. This guide explains what affects accuracy and how to maximize it.

## Accuracy by Formula Type

| Formula Type | Typical Accuracy |
|---|---|
| Printed formulas (textbooks, papers) | 95–99% |
| Clean handwritten formulas | 88–95% |
| Scanned documents (300 DPI+) | 93–98% |
| Photos of whiteboards | 82–92% |
| Low-resolution images (< 72 DPI) | 60–80% |

These are approximate ranges. Individual results depend heavily on image quality.

## Factors That Affect Accuracy

### Image Quality

The single biggest factor. A blurry, low-resolution, or poorly lit image will always produce worse results than a clean scan.

- **Resolution** — 150 DPI or higher is recommended. 300 DPI is ideal for documents.
- **Contrast** — dark ink on a white background gives the clearest signal to the model.
- **Sharpness** — avoid motion blur or out-of-focus shots.

### Formula Complexity

Simple single-line equations are recognized with near-perfect accuracy. More complex structures may have occasional errors:

- Multi-line equation systems
- Large matrices (6×6 or larger)
- Heavily nested fractions (3+ levels deep)
- Non-standard notation or custom symbols

### Handwriting Style

Printed (typed) formulas outperform handwritten ones, but TexPixel handles handwriting well when:

- Letters are clearly formed and not connected (print style, not cursive)
- Variables are written in distinct sizes (clearly different x and × for example)
- Spacing between symbols is consistent

### What Reduces Accuracy

- **Rotated images** — formulas at an angle are harder to parse
- **Overlapping elements** — crossed-out work, annotations, or arrows near symbols
- **Pencil on paper** — low contrast; try increasing image brightness/contrast before uploading
- **Multiple formulas in one image** — crop to the specific formula you need
- **Decorative fonts** — calligraphic or stylized mathematical writing

## Improving Results

If you're getting errors, try these steps in order:

1. **Increase image resolution** — scan at 300 DPI instead of 150 DPI
2. **Improve contrast** — use a photo editor to increase brightness and contrast
3. **Crop tightly** — remove surrounding text and whitespace
4. **Straighten the image** — correct rotation before uploading
5. **Re-photograph** — better lighting, closer distance, sharper focus

## Reporting Errors

Found a formula type that TexPixel consistently gets wrong? Let us know — accuracy feedback directly improves the model over time.

Contact us at: [support@texpixel.com](mailto:support@texpixel.com)

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**Further reading:** [5 Tips for Better Handwriting Recognition →](/blog/handwriting-tips)

[Upload a formula and test accuracy →](/app)