Here are some tips and pointers if you have an old book that you want to scan and translate: Pick the right scanning software with Language Direct.
Whether it’s an old book, a long- forgotten school paper or a contract that is unfortunate enough not to have a soft copy, scanning and translating sounds like a lot of work. Fortunately, today’s technology and accessibility makes it a whole lot easier than it was two years ago.
How to Scan and Translate Accurately
There are many software available online that promises to translate your scanned document quickly. Remember the following:
- When scanning any document that you need to translate, you may need to use a scanner first, and then use and OCR Software or Optical Character Recognition Software. Using a good OCR Software is critical as it reads and recognizes different characters and accent marks. Basically, your scanned document is saved as a JPG, PNG or GIF format. The OCR Software converts this into a readable and editable format.
- After OCR converts your file, be sure to proof read everything. The system includes smudges and small erasures when scanning and reading and it can cause errors. For example, it can easily confuse an R with a B if it reads a small unintended smudge.
- This can cause huge inaccuracies in the final translation.
- Some machine translators only allow scanned documents of specific languages. You may need a different software for European languages and Asian languages.
- Remember that when you scan and translate using a language translation software, there is no human intervention. This means that the risk of inaccuracies is higher.
Scan your documents using a scanning software and send them to us.
Language Direct allows you to scan your document and send it to us for human translation. This will allow us to read through your document and proof read our final work. There is no need to convert the file using an OCR software. You simply have to scan it, send it to us, and we will do the rest.
Earlier this year, Apple launched a new app called Pixter Scanner. Pixter Scanner is an OCR scanner. You can take a photo of any text using the app and it can translate it for you. This is ideal when you’re traveling and you need to translate a menu, or when you’re reading a magazine and there is one quote from a French designer that you need to translate. However, it lacks proof reading even more than a language translation software. The on the go scan and translate option is appealing but should not be used for official document translation.
Here’s a quick tutorial on translating PDF files:
http://youtu.be/bP7e0uN8FTc
Scan and translate your old books, contracts, even your birth certificates, passports or other legal documents without sacrificing quality by seeking the help of Language Direct.
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