All You Need to Know About Translating a PDF File

Translating a PDF file (or any image file) can be necessary sometimes. Especially when you do not have the source document.

What do we mean by a “source document”? Glad you asked.

A PDF file does not come into existence as a PDF file. Often times, the document is created in a word processing application such as MS Word, MS Powerpoint, or InDesign.

It is always preferable to translate these source files rather than the resulting PDF.

We will explain why in a bit.

But before that, let’s look at what goes into translating a PDF file (or any image-based file format for that matter).

How Much Does It Cost to Translate a PDF File

The global translation community - all the translators, translation agencies, and many of the clients that regularly purchase translation services operate on a “per word” basis.

This just means that clients are given a price quote based on the number of words their documents contain, the translators are compensated based on the number of words they work on and that is how everything is calculated.

So the number one issue in translating a PDF file is determining how many words it contains.

MotaWord does that using a hybrid system of language detection, OCR (optical character recognition), document size analysis, and document page number analysis.

All of these calculations allow our Artificial Intelligence to determine the number of words in an image-based document and also to check to make sure the number of words calculated makes sense. (if you are getting 5,000 words to be translated on a 1 page document there must be a problem, right?)

So, in translating a PDF file the first issue is determining the number of words.

The second part, especially important while translating PDF files for USCIS use is the correct detection of language. We do that by analyzing the OCR’ed content and detecting the language from that analysis. There are times when our clients do not know whether a language is Arabic or Farsi. The same kind of confusion happens when they are also sending PDF files for translation in Asian languages.

MotaWord is able to detect the language of any document. This ensures that our clients can send in documents and start projects in a seamless way, without having to worry about figuring out what language a certain document is in.

Faster and More Accurate PDF File Translation

In November 2020 we pushed a major update to our language detection and OCR systems.

We work non-stop on ensuring that our systems are always performing better and faster. And thanks to this update for the image and PDF files you submit for translation on MotaWord, our translation quote engine is now 15x more accurate across all languages and it is 2x faster.

No matter how skewed your scanned documents are; no matter what the background of your scan looks like, it will perform flawlessly. Feel free to give it a try on the quote page.

We also ensured that our “automatic language detection” works with all image files. Previously it was only available for PDF files. Currently, we are able to detect the language of JPEG and PNG files. Two of the most common used formats. So the next time you are unsure of the language of a document, all you need to do is go to the MotaWord quote page and find out within seconds.

Free PDF Translation

Free PDF translation services are provided by a number of internet applications and programs. Google Translate is one such application that lets you upload a PDF file and choose the source and target languages for translation.

It's vital to remember that the quality of the translation may vary while using free PDF translation services. Machine learning algorithms are used by automated translation platforms like Google Translate, therefore the translations they produce might not always be correct or suitable for the context. They frequently provide literal translations that lack nuance and could miss the original text's intended meaning.

Free translation tools could also have restrictions on how big a PDF file can be uploaded or how many translations you can complete in a given amount of time. You might also need to register an account before using their services or they might show adverts.

Professional Translation Service

Compared to free tools, it typically provides translations that are more accurate and of higher quality. If you want to use professional translation services, your project will be handled by native speakers of the source and target languages who are human translators.

Professional translators possess the knowledge necessary to faithfully convey the content's original meaning and context. They are also capable of handling texts that use specialized or technical language. Paid translation services frequently include extra features like formatting, editing, and proofreading to guarantee the greatest caliber of the translated PDF.

You can get in touch with freelancers or translation services that specialize in the languages you need. The length and complexity of the document, the language pair, and the desired turnaround time will all be taken into account when they offer a quote. To make sure the translation satisfies your needs, it is advisable to give the translators any special instructions or directions.

Remember that paid translation services have a cost, and the cost might change depending on a number of circumstances. However, paying for services is frequently advised if accuracy, quality, and professional results are crucial for your PDF translation.

Choosing Wisely: Free or Paid PDF Translation Services for Your Project

Complex or specialized content: It is preferable to use paid translation services if your PDF file contains technical, legal, medical, or industry-specific language. Professional translators can accurately translate such complicated text with their skill and in-depth understanding of the subject matter, guaranteeing that the meaning is maintained and the terminology is used correctly.

Official or business documents: Accuracy and professionalism are essential when dealing with official papers, such as contracts, business proposals, or financial reports. Paid translation services can guarantee that the translated document is correct and appropriate for official use and offer a greater level of quality assurance.

Confidentiality and privacy: Choose a trustworthy paid translation provider if your PDF file contains private or sensitive information. To protect your information and guarantee that it is secure during the translation process, they frequently have rigorous confidentiality standards in place.

High-quality and nuanced translations: Free translation software frequently uses automated procedures, which might result in literal translations devoid of context or nuance. It is preferable to pay for translation services offered by qualified human translators if you need a translation that accurately conveys the intended meaning, tone, and cultural inflections of the original text.

Customization and additional services: Paid translation services frequently provide extra services including editing, formatting, and quality control checks. Paying for these additional services can guarantee that your document satisfies your unique requirements if you need a finished translated PDF version that is polished and attractively presented.

Time-sensitive projects: There can be restrictions on file size or the number of translations you can complete with free translation tools in a certain amount of time. Paid translation services might provide greater flexibility and guarantee that your job is finished on time if you have a time-sensitive project or need speedy turnaround times.

In general, professional PDF translation services are advised when your translation assignment necessitates accuracy, quality, secrecy, and specialist knowledge. Although hiring a professional translator has a price, the advantages they offer frequently outweigh the drawbacks of free translation software.

 Free Service - Who Does Not Like That?

While we do not provide free translation of PDF files, getting a word count from a document in any language and format can easily be done using our fully automated quoting algorithms.

There is absolutely no obligation to purchase when you use the MotaWord quoting page. And our system will easily provide you with the number of words in your PDF document. This can be the first step in translating a pdf file that you have, even if you do not choose us to provide the service.

Another free service you can get from us is the language detection of a document.

If you are ever unsure of what language a birth certificate or immigration-related document is, you can easily go to our quote page, upload the document and our detection algorithm will easily tell you the language (and also the number of words in your content of course).

No need to thank us, we love working with documents and getting to help our translation community. In fact, many of our translators use our ordering engine to get word counts on many different document types.

 Translating a PDF File (or Not)

At the beginning of this article, we said translating a pdf file, while perfectly easy, is not the preferred method.

It is always preferable to translate the source file that created the PDF.

The number one reason is the ability to use a Translation Memory and also MotaWord’s unique ability to detect “Duplicate Content”. As we do not charge our clients for duplicate content within a document and also we keep a Translation Memory free of charge, sending source documents will ensure that all our clients are only paying the bare minimum and are not necessarily getting charged for repetitions or previously translated content.

We have an article that we wrote about this. We especially like the title; “Translation Memory - It's What Friends Use For Your Translations”

There are also formatting considerations.

When you send a PDF file to be translated, the formatting will be matched to the best of our ability but all the images, special design elements, and fonts will be lost.

This is especially true for corporate presentations that can contain images, specific layouts, and of course pagination limitations.

In these cases, sending the source file will ensure that the resulting work while translating a pdf file is exactly the same as the initial document in the source language.

Why Should You Choose MotaWord for Your PDF File Translation?

We at Motaword are dedicated to transforming how organizations and people approach translation. Our platform provides a wide range of unmatched services to meet all of your translation requirements and promote seamless language communication. Let's examine what Motaword offers for your PDF file translation:

Professional Translation Services: You have access to a significant network of highly qualified human translators with Motaword who are authorities in various industries. Our translators have the linguistic skill and subject-specific experience to produce top-notch translations for everything from legal papers to technical manuals, marketing materials to website localization.

Effortless Document Translation: With Motaword, you can quickly and easily upload your PDF files to our platform, where our team of committed translators will do their magic to provide flawless PDF file translations.

Lightning-Fast Turnaround: Time is important in the fast-paced world we live in today. Motaword is made to stick to your strict deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality. We are able to provide quick PDF file translations thanks to our vast network of translators, giving you the advantage in a cutthroat international market.

Transparent and Flexible Pricing: When it comes to pricing, we support openness and adaptability. You can efficiently plan and budget thanks to Motaword's rapid quotes based on word count and language pairs. You will get outstanding value for your money thanks to our clear pricing structure.

Choose Motaword as your dependable translation partner to open up a world of opportunities for your needs in international communication. Experience the power of cutting-edge technology and human translation expertise in your PDF file translations. Discover how Motaword can improve your translation experience by visiting our website right away.

Here we are; you now have much more information that you needed in translating a pdf file. But even as comprehensive as we have tried to be, we do realize that we might not have answered every question.

Never fear, if you are already a MotaWord client you know that we are available 24/7 to answer any question you may have. All you need to do is go to the MotaWord home page and use our live chat function to speak to us.

If you’d just like to see how amazing our quoting algorithms would perform in translating a pdf file, just go to the quote page and give it a try.