Free screenplay converter
PDF to Fountain Converter
Plain text you can edit anywhere, from any screenplay PDF
Convert a screenplay PDF into a clean Fountain file you can edit in any text editor, Highland, Fade In, Beat or Slugline. Scene headings, cues, parentheticals, dialogue, transitions, dual dialogue and the title page are rebuilt from the page layout. Free, and the PDF never leaves your browser.
- Private: your script never leaves this browser tab.
- Free, no signup, no watermark.
- Industry layout kept: scene headings, cues, dialogue, (MORE) and (CONT'D).
Drop your PDF file here
Final Draft, Fountain, PDF, Word, Fade In, Highland, Celtx, WriterDuet, Trelby or plain text. Any of them converts to any output.
Private by design: the conversion runs in this tab and nothing is uploaded.
How it works
The converter reads every text line of the PDF with its position, drops page numbers and CONTINUED markers, and learns this document's columns: where cues, dialogue and parentheticals sit. Each line is classified against them, speeches split by (MORE) and (CONT'D) are rejoined, and scene numbers are kept as Fountain #1# markers. The Fountain writer then emits the simplest syntax that reads back correctly, forcing an element with . ! @ or > only when the natural syntax would be misread.
Every screenplay format, both ways
Any format in the left column converts to PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Word or plain text. Apps without a writable format here all open FDX or Fountain.
| Format | Reads | Writes |
|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (.fdx) | ||
| Fountain (.fountain) | ||
| Word (.docx) | ||
| Fade In (.fadein) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Highland (.highland) | Use Fountain, which it opens | |
| Celtx (.celtx) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| WriterDuet (.wdz, .json) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Trelby (.trelby) | Use FDX, which it opens | |
| Text (.txt) |
Get your script out of a PDF and back into plain text
Fountain is the format that never locks you in: a screenplay as plain text, readable by humans and by every serious screenwriting app. Converting a PDF to Fountain is the fastest way to get an old draft, or a script that only exists as a PDF, back into a form you can edit, version with Git, or move between apps.
Copying text out of a PDF does not give you Fountain. The cue indentation, the dialogue column and the blank lines that tell Fountain what each line is are lost on the way. This converter rebuilds them from the geometry of the page, so the file opens in Highland or Fade In with its elements in place.
Scanned PDFs have no text layer and need OCR first. For everything exported from a screenwriting app, check the preview with the element view on, then download the .fountain file.
Who uses it
- Plain text writers: bring old PDF drafts into a Fountain workflow in Obsidian, iA Writer or VS Code.
- Highland and Beat users: open any screenplay PDF in a Fountain-based app with its elements typed.
- Writers who version their work: put scripts under Git and see draft-to-draft changes line by line.
Stop fixing margins.Formatting is built in.
ScreenWeaver handles industry-standard formatting and exports to PDF and Final Draft (.fdx). Free, with unlimited pages.
- $0, does not expire
- PDF and Final Draft export
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad
PDF to Fountain Converter: the complete guide
It recognizes headings, cues, parentheticals, dialogue, transitions, centered text and dual dialogue from the PDF layout, rejoins split speeches, keeps scene numbers as #n# markers and writes the simplest Fountain that reads back correctly.
For this workflow, the central problem is clear: text copied out of a screenplay PDF loses the layout that tells Fountain which line is a cue, a speech or a heading. Left unresolved, this creates downstream friction and slower decisions. The practical target is a clean Fountain file with elements rebuilt from the page, ready for any plain text or Fountain app.
Limitation to keep in mind: Scanned PDFs need OCR first, and emphasis is not recovered from a PDF.
Advanced workflow: Writers move a backlog of PDF drafts into a Git repository as Fountain, then track every later change line by line.
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Drop the PDF.
- Check the element view in the preview.
- Choose whether to keep scene numbers.
- Download the .fountain file.
Use Cases By Profile
- Plain text writer: bring old drafts into Obsidian, iA Writer or VS Code.
- Highland or Beat user: open any screenplay PDF with its elements typed.
- Teacher: share an editable version of a script excerpt with a class.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pasting PDF text into a Fountain editor and expecting the cues to be recognized.
- Converting a scan without OCR.
- Not checking headings that lack INT. or EXT.
Professional Best Practices
- Forced elements (. @ > !) appear only where Fountain would misread the line.
- Keep the PDF alongside the Fountain file as the reference version.
- Convert the Fountain file to FDX later if a producer needs Final Draft.
Treat this tool output as a decision support layer, not a replacement for authorship. Great scripts are remembered for specific choices, emotional precision, and clarity of dramatic movement. Tools help by removing noise so your energy can go where it matters: character, conflict, escalation, and payoff. If you review outcomes after each pass and keep an explicit log of accepted changes, your workflow becomes faster and more predictable from draft to draft. That consistency is exactly what professional collaborators value: fewer surprises, clearer rationale, and a script that evolves with intent.
Extended FAQ
Why not just copy the text out of the PDF?
Because Fountain recognizes elements from capitals and blank lines, and copied PDF text loses the blank lines and indentation. The converter rebuilds them from the page geometry.
Which apps open the Fountain file?
Highland, Fade In, Beat, Slugline, WriterSolo, Logline and any text editor. You can also convert it back to PDF or FDX here.
Are scene numbers kept?
Yes, as Fountain scene number markers (#12#), unless you choose to remove or renumber them.
Does it read scanned PDFs?
No. Run OCR first, then convert the resulting PDF.
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser tab.