Once and awhile I run across a pattern that I love that is not available in English and I want to save the pattern as a PDF file but I need to be able to have a copy in English.

How TO: 

Translate PDF Files Into Different Languages

When this happens – you have a couple of options – one option I have used is this free tool from Google:

Google Translate

I use Google Translate all the time – it doesn’t always know exactly what the phrase is that has been typed (especially when the person contacting me uses slang in their response) but it is a very good place to start.  I try to use full words (instead of abbreviations, slangs or contractions) as much as possible to eliminate as much confusion as I can with translation services.

Here is a look at the Google Translate screen I usually use:

You probably know that you can translate a phrase, or term from a website online, just by copying and pasting the text into the little boxes and selecting your language of choice…but did you see this function?

I did not see that function until very recently!

Here’s what you can do with it:

Once you pass this screen you will see the document translating (in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen I see the percentage translated) and once it has translated you receive a new screen that shows the title “Translated Version of” and then whatever your original pdf document was called.