--- title: OCR Translation: Translate Scanned PDFs & Images | Smartcat description: Run OCR and translation in one step: pull text from scanned PDFs, photos, and screenshots and translate it into 280+ languages. Try Smartcat free. canonical: https://www.smartcat.com/real-time-translation/ocr/ language: en updated: 2026-08-23 --- # OCR Translation: Translate Scanned PDFs & Images | Smartcat ## Real-Time OCR Translation for Files Instantly translate scanned PDFs and images. Smartcat's AI-powered [real time translation ocr](https://www.smartcat.com/ai-agents/pdf-agent/) digitizes visual content for your global communication workflows. ## Integrate OCR Translation into Your Content Workflow ### 99% ### High Quality & Consistency Our AI technology and human review workflows ensure high-quality output. ### 4x ### Faster Project Turnaround Reduce your translation project timelines from weeks to mere days. ### 100% ### Increased Content Output Expand your content localization without expanding your budget. ## Translate Scanned Files into 280+ Languages Instantly Explore our most requested language pairs for fast document translation. ### Spanish to English AI PDF converter ### French to English AI PDF converter ### German to English AI PDF converter ### Chinese to English AI PDF converter ### Japanese to English AI PDF converter ### Translate in Seconds ### Automated Translation with AI Agents Smartcat’s [PDF Translation Agent](https://www.smartcat.com/ai-agents/pdf-agent/) automatically extracts text from PDFs. It then translates the content and reconstructs the file, preserving your original layout. - [Translate PDF Files Now](https://smartcat.com/sign-up?pdf-translator_tabs-carousel) ### Limitless Users ### Team Collaboration in One Place Invite your colleagues to the platform. You can also bring in external [reviewers](https://www.smartcat.com/marketplace/). Smartcat offers unlimited seats for your team. - [Start Collaborating Today](https://smartcat.com/sign-up?pdf-translator_tabs-carousel) ### 95%+ AI Quality ### Achieve Over 95% AI Quality Leverage translation memories and glossaries. This enhances your output for clear and consistent translations across all projects. - [Create High Quality Translations](https://smartcat.com/sign-up?pdf-translator_tabs-carousel) ### Marketplace ### Access a Marketplace of Reviewers Hire vetted [reviewers](https://www.smartcat.com/marketplace/) from the Smartcat Marketplace. They collaborate with AI agents to continuously improve your translation quality. - [Hire Expert Reviewers](https://www.smartcat.com/marketplace) ## Why Leading Global Companies Choose Smartcat ### 9.6/10 ease of setup ### 9.3/10 for platform usability ### 1,000+ corporate clients worldwide ### 20% of Fortune 500 companies Optimize Your Document Translation with AI Agents - [Book a Personalized Demo](https://www.smartcat.com/book-a-demo/?from_pdf-translator) ## A Simple Guide to Using the Translation Agent ### A 5-Step Process for PDF Translation ### Step 1: Upload Your PDF Document ### Step 2: Choose Your Target Language(s) ### Step 3: Begin the Translation ### Step 4: Use the Smartcat Editor for Review ### Step 5: Download the Translated PDFs - [Begin PDF Translations Now](https://smartcat.com/sign-up?pdf-translator) ## Achieve Quality, Speed, and Savings Simultaneously ### 400% ### Faster Turnaround Achieved by Smith+Nephew by switching their localization to Smartcat. - [Read Case Study](https://www.smartcat.com/cases/smith-nephew/) ### 70% ### Reduction in Costs For Stanley Black & Decker, while also boosting quality and efficiency. - [Read Case Study](https://www.smartcat.com/cases/stanley-black-and-decker/) ### 31 hours ### Saved per Month For Babbel’s marketing and Learning & Development teams. - [Read Case Study](https://www.smartcat.com/cases/babbel/) Accurate Document Translation with AI Agents Use our [PDF Translation Agent](https://www.smartcat.com/ai-agents/pdf-agent/) to streamline your entire workflow. Achieve 95% translation quality pre-review, reduce costs, and shorten turnaround times. - [Translate Your PDFs Now](https://smartcat.com/sign-up?pdf-translator_bottom-cta) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I translate a PDF with AI agents? Smartcat's [PDF Translation Agent](https://www.smartcat.com/ai-agents/pdf-agent/) automates the entire process. It extracts text, translates it, and rebuilds the document. This process preserves your original layout and design. This agent simplifies PDF localization. It helps cut design cycles and reduce review rounds. You get translated assets to market much faster. ### What is the best AI PDF converter? Smartcat is a unified platform for content workflows. It combines creation, translation, and localization in one place. This process is automated by AI Agents that learn from your team. Our platform includes a **real-time translator using ocr**. It translates and rebuilds PDFs seamlessly. This provides scalable localization that maintains your brand and layout integrity. ### Can the AI read scanned PDFs? Yes. Smartcat's [PDF Translation Agent](https://www.smartcat.com/ai-agents/pdf-agent/) uses advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This **real time ocr translation** technology converts scanned PDFs into editable text before translation begins. ### Can I edit text extracted from scanned PDFs? Yes, absolutely. You can review and edit the text in the Smartcat Editor. This happens after extraction and before the AI translation starts. After translation, you can review the new target language text. It is shown side-by-side with the source text for easy comparison and editing. ### How many languages are supported? Our [PDF Translation Agent](https://www.smartcat.com/ai-agents/pdf-agent/) supports over 280 languages. You can translate your PDFs into major and less common languages at the same time. ### Does Smartcat integrate with other systems? Yes. Smartcat provides [over 30 integrations](https://www.smartcat.com/integrations/). These connect with systems like Google Drive, Contentful, and Adobe Experience Manager. This helps to streamline your existing workflows. ### Will my document's formatting be preserved? Yes. The PDF Translation Agent is designed to rebuild your document after translation. It aims to preserve the original layout, fonts, and design elements as closely as possible. ### How are images handled in PDF translations? The agent does not automatically translate text embedded within images. However, it provides context tags. These tags help you associate the translated text with the correct visuals for post-editing. ### Can I customize terminology for specific PDFs? Yes, you can upload custom glossaries. This ensures your translations use accurate and consistent terminology. The agent also learns from every edit made by a reviewer, improving future translations. ### How secure is Smartcat's AI PDF Converter? Smartcat protects your project data with top-tier security measures. This includes: - SOC 2 Type II compliance - Complete end-to-end encryption - Role-based access controls - Data residency and GDPR compliance Your content remains secure throughout the entire localization workflow. ### Is there a free trial for PDF translation? Yes. You can sign up for a free 14-day trial. This gives you full access to explore all platform features, including our advanced AI PDF converter and **real time translation ocr**.