Smartling Image Translation allows you to translate text embedded in images, even without the original design source files. Simply upload a PNG, JPEG, or WebP image, and Smartling automatically extracts the text. You can then request translation using any type of workflow, just like any other file type. Once translation is complete, Smartling produces a fully translated version of the image with the original layout and styling preserved.

This is especially useful when you have screenshots, UI captures, or other flat-file images with text that needs to be localized, such as product screenshots in your help center or app store listings.

Image Translation is currently in beta, results may vary. It is designed to translate screenshots and images containing easy-to-read text. This feature is continuing to be developed to handle more complex images and use cases.

Supported file types

Image Translation supports the following file formats:

• PNG (.png)
• JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
• WebP (.webp) (regular, with no transparent background and no animation) 

These are flat-file image formats where the text is part of the image itself. If you have access to the original source file from a design tool, use the appropriate Smartling integration instead:

• For Figma files, use the Smartling Figma Plugin.
• For Adobe InDesign files (.indd, .idml), upload them directly. Smartling parses InDesign files natively, or use the Adobe InDesign (INDD) plugin. 
• For PSD or other layered formats, export to a supported flat-file format (PNG, JPEG, or WebP) before uploading, or use the Adobe Photoshop Plugin.

Image Translation does not extract or translate images embedded within other file types such as PowerPoint, PDF, or Figma files. To translate images, upload them as standalone files.

The maximum supported file size is 5 MB, and the maximum resolution is 4000 x 4000 pixels.

How it works

When you upload an image for translation, Smartling processes it through three stages:

1. Text extraction: Smartling automatically detects all text in the image, along with its position, font style, size, color, and alignment.
2. Background reconstruction: The original text is removed from the image, and the background behind it is cleanly restored to create a blank canvas for the translated text.
3. Translated text rendering: The translated text is placed back onto the image in the same locations, preserving the original formatting and layout as closely as possible.

The result is a translated image that closely matches the original, just in a different language.

Requesting images for translation

Images are requested for translation the same way as any other supported file type. From within your Smartling project, navigate to the Jobs tab and click Request Translation, which prompts you to enter a job name and drag and drop your image file. You can also upload image files through the project Files tab or directly to a job through the job's Files tab. For step-by-step instructions, see Create a Job / Request Translation.

Translating images

Once added to a job, the image strings behave like any other content in Smartling. This means you get the same capabilities you use for all other content types (for example, translation memory, glossaries, AI and machine translation, CAT Tool quality checks). You can authorize the content for translation in any workflow, set due dates, and download a translated version of the file once the job is complete.

Static visual context is automatically generated so that as translators work in the CAT Tool, the original image is available to help them understand where each string appears. A preview of the translated image is not available in the CAT Tool. To see the final translated image, you will need to download the completed file.

Downloading translated images

Once translation is complete, you can download translated images the same way you would any other file type in Smartling. The downloaded file is a flat-file image (the same format as the original) with the translated text in place, ready to use in your help center, app store listing, or other content. It is not an editable design file. If you need to adjust the translated image, download it and edit it in an external design tool.

For detailed instructions, see How to download translated files.

Best practices

To get the best results from Image Translation, keep these tips in mind:

• Use clean, simple images. Screenshots with standard UI text, solid or simple backgrounds, and clear typography produce the best results.
• Avoid heavily stylized or custom fonts. Smartling detects the font family (sans-serif, serif, monospace, or cursive), size, and color from the original image and applies a matching font in the translated version. The exact font is not matched, so standard fonts translate more reliably than brand-specific or decorative typefaces. For non-Latin scripts, appropriate fallback fonts are applied to ensure the text renders correctly.
• Check images with dense text. Images with a lot of text content may need review after translation, since translated text can be longer than the source and may need to fit within the same layout space.
• Review translated images. Smartling preserves the layout and styling as closely as possible, but it's important to review the final output, especially for images with complex layouts or multiple text regions.
• Use source files when available. If you have access to the original Figma, InDesign, or PSD file, using a Smartling design application plugin will give you an easier way to incorporate a Desktop Publishing (DTP) process. Image Translation is designed for cases where you only have the flat-file image.

Current limitations

Image Translation works best with screenshot-style images that have clean layouts and standard typography. The following are not currently supported:

• Large, complex tables
• Complex or photographic backgrounds behind text
• Stylized text (for example, WordArt, multi-color fonts, text effects)
• Embedded charts, graphs, or diagrams
• Angled, curved, or rotated text
• Handwritten text or annotations
• Overlapping text and images
• Watermarks

If your image falls into one of these categories, consider using the original design source file with the appropriate Smartling plugin, or working with your localization team on a manual DTP process.

FAQ