This documentation is for the legacy Adobe InDesign (JSON) plugin. We recommend using the newer Adobe InDesign (INDD) plugin, which uploads InDesign content to Smartling in INDD format rather than JSON and offers an improved translation process.
Pseudo-translation is a way of performing translation without really translating. It replaces the source text with a repeated special character set from other languages. It's completely automated, and it exists here to provide InDesign designers a quick glance at what a translated version of their prototype will look like. Quickly identify strings that will not be translated, locate problematic buttons with run-off text, or simply test your font to determine how it's going to look and feel with a different set of characters.
Pseudo-translate Your File
- Launch InDesign Desktop App
- Open a new or existing InDesign file
- Click Window > Extensions > Smartling
- In the Smartling window, click Menu on the top left-hand corner
- This is where you'll find all functions of the Smartling plugin
- This is where you'll find all functions of the Smartling plugin
- From the options listed in the menu, select Pseudotranslate
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In the dialog that opens, select a language that represents the region you will be translating for. Each language set corresponds with a text expansion or contraction percentage. This allows you to decide how much expansion or contraction you'd like to see in your pseudo.
- Click Apply Translations and take a look at your new Pseudo-translated page. A copy of your chosen page will be created with selected pseudo translations.
Text Expansion Ratios
- Chinese, Japanese: reduces text size by 50%.
- Korean: reduces text size by 30%.
- Baseline: displays pseudo translations with no text expansion.
- Most European Languages: increases text size by 15%.
- French, Italian: increases text size by 30%.
- Dutch,German: increases text size by 50%.