Picking-up letters from an image file

[Kimi]

Was wondering if it's possible to have a special software perhaps to pick-up letters (such as alphabets or Kanji/Chinese characters) from an image file like an e-fax file, tif file.
I heard once that there is a software that can put some dots on a certain shape from an entire image file that contains heaps of images.
Then to copy the intended image, the dots/pixels are combined.
Or maybe let's say if the tif file can be converted into pdf file then using the pdf writer then the letters can be copied then separated from the file?
Basically what I want is to copy the letters from an e-fax file (.tif format) to be manipulated further most likely using excel. The thing is the letters contain alphabets and Kanji characters.
Cheers for any tips.