Are you wondering if you can translate a PDF document? The answer is yes. There are plenty of ways that you can use to translate your PDF document. An easy and fast way to get accurate PDF document translations is by using the services of transcription companies.
In this article, we will look at some of the ways you can translate your PDF document. They include:
- By Using a Professional Translator
- By using Google Translate
- By Using Software
- By Using a Professional Translator
Suppose the source file you used to create the PDF file is available. In that case, it is possible to hire a professional translator or a third-party translation service to translate the document into the language you want. After its translation, the document is then printed or saved as a PDF.
Depending on how many or what languages you want your final PDF in, hiring a professional translator is the most accurate method of translating any PDF file. It is advisable to use human translation services offered by professional translators, especially where you are dealing with complicated texts.
Finding a professional translator is very easy as they are plenty of them on freelance websites like Fiverr or Upwork. On these sites, you are able to either choose a freelancer to handle your translation request or receive bids from competent translators. Besides, there are numerous translation companies online, all you need to do is perform an online search, and you will outsource your translation work in no time.
Where you intend to use your translated pdf for a presentation or professional use, the best option is to have a human translator handle your translation request. Using the services of a professional translator works best before you make your document into a PDF file. Although it can still be translated after it is saved as a PDF file, it increases the professional translator’s work, meaning you will have to pay more for the services.
- By using Google Translate
One of the best and superior translation software in the market is Google Translate. It is developed by Google and supports many languages. You can access Google Translate through an Android app, an iPad or iPhone app, an API that allows integration of translation services into their web apps and web pages, or a web interface. This software uses superior machine learning algorithms that allow it to improve its capabilities to translate constantly.
Translating using Google Translate is free, convenient, and fast. However, there are some disadvantages associated with using this method of translation. They include:
- This translation service does not proofread the translated document. For this reason, your article may have grammatical issues, especially where the document has complex sentences and ideas.
- Where your PDF file is compressed into an image, or it contains a scanned document (rather than a words and graphics arrangement), this translation tool cannot detect the text; thus, it will not translate.
- You may end up with a document that sounds awkward to your readers due to a subpar translation. Where you are unfamiliar with the target language, it can lead to irrelevant/embarrassing translations.
- There are some security risks that come with uploading your files to Google Translate, especially if they are private and confidential documents.
It is advisable to use Google Translate when translating a document for personal use. Besides, you can use it if you do not mind the potential issues on privacy associated with free translation tools.
- By Using Software
Where you need professional translation services quite often, it is advisable to consider investing in a professional translation service or software that will handle your translation requests. However, if you only need to translate PDFs occasionally, free translation software can serve the purpose.
An excellent translation software that you can use occasionally is DocTranslator. This document management is web-based and free to use. It allows you to translate your PDF file into any of the available 109 languages. Google Translate powers the software while volunteers run it. It is advantageous if you require occasional translation services as it is free to use. However, you can donate to their website.
Another powerful translation software is Microsoft Translator for Word. After translating Microsoft Word source files into your targeted language, you can then convert them into PDFs. Microsoft Translator for Word employs various superior tools to translate your files. However, its quality cannot match that of a professional translator.
You can use translation tools when dealing with professional presentations or documents. However, you have to trust that your document has been correctly translated. For personal and internal documents, ensuring the software gets the translation right shouldn’t be an issue.
Final Verdict
As we have seen above, there are various ways that you can use to translate your PDF files. It is essential to choose a quality translation option to ensure you get a high-quality final document.