Use case
Translate scanned PDFs without pretending they’re born-digital
Scanned PDFs are often bitmap pages under the hood. DocTranslate still runs them through the same PDF-first pipeline—upload, choose languages, queue a job, download from My documents when it completes.
Examples: Typical files: signed contracts scanned to PDF, field photos of paper forms, archive bundles from a copier, and legacy manuals that only exist as images inside a PDF.
One credit per PDF page · Jobs run asynchronously (not instant) · New accounts include three free credits
Why this workflow fits this PDF type
PDF in, PDF out
You upload a PDF and get a translated PDF back—aligned with how teams review and file documents, not a wall of pasted text.
Async jobs you can track
Translation runs on Cloudflare Queues. Expect minutes, not milliseconds—especially on longer scans—while you monitor progress in the dashboard.
Credits match page count
One credit per PDF page. New accounts include three free credits so you can validate quality on a real scan before scaling.
Honest limitations for scanned PDFs
- Handwriting, stamps, watermarks, and marginal notes are unreliable—assume they may be dropped or misread.
- Multi-column magazine layouts and faint gray text can confuse structure preservation.
- DocTranslate does not promise pixel-perfect recreation of every scan; compare side-by-side before publishing.
Ready on your own files?
Create an account, upload a representative PDF, and use your free credits to validate layout and language quality before you buy bundles via Stripe.
FAQ
Answers scoped to this document type—not generic marketing claims.
Will a scanned PDF translate as cleanly as a text-based PDF?
Usually not. If the scan is skewed, low contrast, or heavily compressed, extraction and layout fidelity can suffer. DocTranslate aims for practical output—always spot-check legal, medical, or compliance-critical scans.
Do you run OCR before translating?
The product is built around PDF translation jobs rather than advertising a specific OCR stack. Treat scans as higher-risk inputs: preview downloads and verify names, numbers, and tables before sharing externally.
Can I translate a password-protected scan?
If the PDF is locked from opening or copying, remove protection before upload or the job may fail. Never upload PDFs you are not authorized to process.