Glossary
Scanlation (fan translation)
Scanlation, or fan translation, is a translation of a comic made by readers instead of the publisher, usually by volunteer groups who scan or capture the pages, translate the text and letter it back in. Most are shared without the rights holder's permission, so their legal standing varies.
What a fan translation is
A fan translation is an unofficial translation made by readers. For comics, a group usually gets the pages as scans or screen captures, translates the dialogue, removes the original text and letters the translation back in, then shares the result. In English this is often called by a word that blends scan and translation.
The usual steps
- Getting the pages: scanning a printed volume or capturing digital pages.
- Translation: a translator writes the new script, often with notes on jokes and names.
- Cleaning: the original lettering is removed and the art underneath restored.
- Typesetting: the translation is placed in the bubbles in a fitting font.
- Quality check: someone reads the result for mistakes before it is shared.
Is it legal?
Usually not without permission. A translation is a derivative of the original work, and sharing it needs the rights holder's consent in most countries. Some groups stop when a series is licensed in their language, but that is a custom, not a legal rule. Laws differ by country, and this page is not legal advice.
Legal ways to read
- Official translations from publishers, in print or as e-books.
- Publisher apps and sites that release chapters, often on the same day as the original.
- Libraries, many of which lend comics and digital comics.
- Original-language editions you buy, if you read the language or want to learn it.
How RuneManga relates to it
RuneManga automates the same steps a team does by hand: finding the bubbles, reading the text, cleaning it, translating it and typesetting the result. It is a personal reading tool, not a way to publish translations. Use it only on pages you have the right to process, such as your own work, licensed work or material you may read for personal use, and do not share the results of work you do not hold the rights to.
Can I share pages I translated with RuneManga?
Only if you hold the rights to them, for example your own comic. The Terms explain the rules.
Is a machine translation the same as a fan translation?
No. A fan translation is written by people. A machine translation is made by software and is best used as a personal reading aid.