How to translate a PDF and keep its formatting
Translate PDF creates a version of your document in another language that keeps its pages and approximates where each block of text sits: the translation appears where the original was, at a similar size and colour, on the same background. That lets you read a leaflet, a data sheet, a letter or a certificate in your own language without losing sight of what the document looked like.
It is a Naiara Plus AI feature: the tool is visible to everyone, but you need to be signed in with an active subscription to use it.
Step by step
- Sign in with your Naiara Plus account.
- Upload the PDF you want to translate.
- Under translate to, choose the language: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian or Portuguese.
- Process, check the result and download it.
How the layout is kept
The tool detects each block of text with its position, size and colour and translates it separately; table cells and columns are treated as separate blocks so they do not run together. Each page is then rebuilt from an image of the original: the source text is covered with the colour of the surrounding background and the translation is written on top, with the font size reduced if the translated text is longer.
The result keeps images, logos and graphics, and the translated text is selectable. Original fonts, links and form fields are not kept, and very dense text can end up tightly packed, so check the layout.
Limits and good practice
Up to 10 pages and 40,000 characters per document, and the PDF must have selectable text; run scans through OCR PDF first. If a translation does not fit its space, the tool tells you rather than handing back cut-off text.
The text is sent to the AI provider to be translated. It is machine translation: great for understanding and working with a document, but official papers, contracts or text you are going to publish deserve a human review, or a certified translation where one is required.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the formatting survive translation?
- Pages, images and the approximate position of each text block are kept. Check fonts and layout, especially on crowded pages.
- Which languages can I translate into?
- English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.
- How many pages can I translate?
- Up to 10 pages and 40,000 characters per document. Split longer PDFs.
- Do I need Naiara Plus?
- Yes. Translation uses AI and is included in Naiara Plus (€9.90/month).
- Can I use it as an official translation?
- No. It is machine translation; processes that require a certified translation need an accredited translator.