How to translate a manga PDF
Drop a manga PDF on the RuneManga WebApp: every page is translated, and you download the result as one PDF or as a ZIP of pages.
To translate a manga PDF with RuneManga, drop the PDF onto the WebApp. Each page is drawn as an image in your browser and translated, and you can download the result as one PDF again or as a ZIP of pages. A CBZ works the same way.
Use RuneManga only on pages you have the right to process, such as your own work, licensed work or material you may read for personal use.
How a PDF is read
A PDF is a container: it can hold pictures, text and fonts for many pages in one file. The WebApp opens it in your browser and draws each page as an image about 1600 pixels wide. The PDF file itself is not uploaded; only those page images are sent for translation, the same as when you add pictures.
Step 1: Check the file
- Every page of the PDF counts as one page against your plan's limit: up to 50 pages at once on Free, 100 on Supporter, 200 on Pro and 500 on Ultimate. Pages past the limit are left out, and a note says how many.
- A password-protected PDF cannot be opened. Do not try to get around that protection. Use files you are allowed to process.
- A CBZ is a ZIP of page images. It opens like any ZIP, with the pages sorted by file name.
Step 2: Upload and translate
- Open the RuneManga WebApp and drop the PDF onto the box, or choose it with Choose files.
- Check the thumbnails: there is one per PDF page, in the PDF's order.
- Choose the language to translate into and press the button.
- Compare each result with the original.
Step 3: Download as PDF or ZIP
When the pages are done, Download all (PDF) saves one PDF with every translated page, including the changes you made in Edit mode. Download all (ZIP) saves the pages as images instead. Keep the original PDF too: uploads are deleted about an hour after the job.
Scanned PDFs and digital PDFs
- A scanned PDF is a stack of photographs of pages. Large scans keep the lettering readable.
- A digital PDF may hold its pages at a modest size. Drawing them larger does not add detail, so very small lettering can be misread.
- A page that is mostly a photograph is saved as a JPEG of good quality, so a page from the result PDF can be a little larger than in the original.
If the result looks wrong
- X is not a readable PDF: the file is damaged or password-protected. Open it in a PDF reader to check.
- X has N pages; the first ones were added and the rest left out: the PDF has more pages than your plan's limit. Translate the rest in a second run.
- Text is blurry or misread: the PDF held small images. Look for a larger source.
- Some text is still in the original language: it is probably outside a bubble or a sound effect, which are not translated yet.
Questions
Can RuneManga translate a PDF file directly?
Yes. Drop the PDF onto the WebApp: each page is drawn in your browser and translated, and you can download the result as one PDF.
What about a CBZ?
Add it like a ZIP. RuneManga opens it and sorts the pages by file name.
Is my PDF file uploaded?
No. The PDF is opened in your browser. Only the page images are sent for translation, and they are deleted about an hour after the job.
How many pages can I translate at once?
Up to 50 pages at once on Free, 100 on Supporter, 200 on Pro and 500 on Ultimate.