File preparation and OCR

Clean files in, clean translations out.

Line breaks, broken hyphenation, scanned pages and text locked in images all add cost and risk to a translation. We resolve them before translation starts, so your files flow smoothly through the workflow and come back ready to publish.

What you get
OCR

turns scans into editable files

Clean

segments for better memory matches

Fewer

costs from avoidable rework

Ready

for translation and DTP

What we fix

Problems we solve before translation starts.

Small issues in a source file multiply across every language. Fixing them once saves time and cost in all of them.

Scanned PDFs

Scanned and image-based PDFs converted into editable text with OCR.

Text in images

Text locked in screenshots, diagrams and graphics extracted so it can be translated.

Line and page breaks

Manual line breaks and hard returns removed so sentences are recognised correctly.

Incorrect hyphenation

Broken words and manual hyphens cleaned up before they reach your translation memory.

Layout structure

Styles, text frames and tags checked so the layout can be rebuilt in every language.

Memory-ready segments

Clean source text means better matches from your translation memory and lower costs.

Formats we handle

Your files, as they are

✓

Scanned PDFs and image files

✓

Word, PowerPoint and Excel

✓

InDesign, FrameMaker and Illustrator

✓

XML, HTML and other structured formats

Good to know

Editable sources save the most

If you have the original editable files, send them. When only a PDF or a scan exists, OCR and file preparation make it translatable.

How it works

From any file to a translation-ready document.

01

Send your files

Share your documents in whatever format you have them, including scans and PDFs.

02

Analyse the files

We check how the files were produced and what needs to be fixed before translation.

03

Convert and clean

OCR, text extraction and clean-up make the content editable and correctly segmented.

04

Translate

The prepared files are translated with your translation memory and glossary.

05

Rebuild and deliver

Our DTP team restores the layout and delivers files ready to publish.

Client voices

Long-term partners, in their own words.

Manufacturers, agencies and specialist firms across Europe rely on us for documentation that has to be right in every market.

FAQ

Questions about file preparation and OCR.

What is file preparation for translation?

File preparation fixes problems in the source file, such as manual line breaks, broken hyphenation or locked text, before translation starts. It prevents errors and avoids paying for work that adds no value.

Can you translate a scanned PDF?

Yes. We first convert it into an editable document with OCR, check it against the original and then translate it.

How accurate is OCR?

Accuracy depends on the quality of the scan. Every converted file is checked by our team against the original before translation.

Why does file preparation reduce costs?

Clean text is segmented correctly, so your translation memory finds more matches and less work is repeated.

Do I get the translated file back in the same format?

Yes. After translation, our DTP team rebuilds the layout so you receive files in their original format, ready to publish.

Get started

Send us the file you are worried about.

Share a scanned PDF or a difficult source file. We will tell you what needs to be fixed and how it affects your translation.

How can we help?

Tell us what you need and we’ll get back to you with the solutions.

DEMA Solutions
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