Online Google translator for photographs. Recognize text from images online for free
Technology has turned the fantasies of the past into reality. Today, people no longer have to learn a foreign language or understand the peculiarities of its alphabet in order to translate information signs and labels into foreign language. All you need is a device with a good camera and an online application that will translate the information you need from a picture or even directly from the camera. This saves time by not forcing users to enter information for translation, especially when it comes to large chunks of text in a foreign language.
The principle of operation of a translator from English into Russian (and vice versa) using a photo
Many people are familiar with the so-called optical character recognition (OCR) mechanisms. These are programs that are capable of recognizing typewritten text from photographs, pictures, pdf files, etc. The same mechanisms are used in modern translators.
The principle of translation from a photograph is simple. The image that the user uploads to the server goes through OCR. It automatically detects the typewritten text area and recognizes the written lines.
After the system detects the text and you select the fragment you need, the text will be automatically translated as normal, typed in the usual way. It should be remembered that the quality of the translation depends on the picture. If the text on it is barely readable, it most likely will not cope with its task.
Translating text from a photo using Google Translator
Google Translator is developing by leaps and bounds, adding all new tools and features. Thus, the developers at one time added the ability to enter handwritten text, which could be written directly on the screen, followed by text recognition from a microphone and from a photograph.
In 2014, the company acquired the instant translation service Word Lens. This is undoubtedly one of the most advanced applications that allows you to recognize text from your camera mobile phone, and instantly. You don't even need to take a photo of what you need to translate. You should start by translating the text from the photograph. This feature is not available in the browser, but works fine on mobile devices Oh.
Step 1. Download Google's online translator to your phone via the AppStore or Google Play. Install and run it.
Step 2. In the area above the text input field, configure the languages for translation, in our case - from English to Russian. And click on the camera icon in the lower left corner.
Step 3: The app will launch your phone's camera. Point it at the text you need to translate. Once all the text fits on the screen, click on the red button and take a photo of the text.
Step 4. The application will immediately begin to recognize the text of your photo.
Step 5. Once the photo is processed, select the area you need, or all the text at once.
Step 6: Click on the blue arrow button to have the app translate all the text. As soon as you click on it, the system will take you to the familiar interface, where in the source text field there will be everything that the application was able to recognize, and just below it will be its translation.
Photo translator of text from a photograph or picture from a gallery
Everything we discussed above concerns texts translated using your camera. Translating text from photos already stored on your phone, taken previously, or downloaded from the Internet is also easy. Repeat the same thing, but instead of taking a photo yourself, click on the button indicated by the arrow in the screenshot below. She will direct you to the Gallery, where you will be asked to select a photo. Find it and open it.
Next, the system will recognize and translate the text in the same way as in the previous case. Since the example text is much shorter this time, the app will translate it automatically. Go to the standard view by clicking the blue button again.
Instant translation from camera
Much has already been said about this function above. This is very convenient in cases where you quickly need to find out what is written on information signs if you are traveling abroad, or the composition of shampoo in a store if it is written in English.
To enable instant translation, you will have to open the camera again, then instead of the red button to take a photo or the button to access the gallery, click on the eye symbol in the lower right corner. The program will automatically begin to recognize individual words, translate and replace them with the result.
This translation is not the most correct and you will not be able to copy it, but it is instant because it is designed to satisfy current needs. This function will not cope with voluminous texts or if the mobile device’s camera leaves much to be desired. The translation is not always correct, since instant translation works separately for each word. However, in the case of information signs and in separate words This amazing tool will do the job with a bang.
Translating text from a photo using Yandex Translator
Russian developers are not lagging behind foreign ones. Recently, the Yandex translator has added a function for translating text from photographs. Unlike Google, you can use it from your computer. It works on approximately the same principle.
Step 1. Go to the translator's website.
Step 2. Go to online photo translator. You will see a “Picture” link in the top horizontal menu. So, a field for inserting an image will appear on your computer screen. Click on the “Select file” button or drag the picture into the field on the site.
Step 3. As soon as you insert a photo, the service will begin automatic text recognition, after which you can see the translation by clicking on the “Open in Translator” button.
Yandex offers three options for text recognition and translation:
- by words, when the system identifies each word individually. In this case, they will be translated each on a new line;
- by lines;
- by blocks, as in the example under consideration.
Step 4. A new window will open in your browser with the recognized source text and its translation. Again, the quality of the translation largely depends on the resolution of the camera with which the photograph was taken, and even how evenly the lines are located in the photograph.
So, both translators do a good job of their main task - translating information from photographs, and both of them are available completely free of charge. One service is exclusively for mobile devices, and the other is for desktops. They complement each other.
We have already written about the best translation apps for iPhone, but now we will refine the search area and consider only photo translators - applications that allow you to translate what is captured on camera, that is, they can recognize text and more or less adequately reproduce it in your own language .
1. Google Translate
Yes, Google's proprietary translator learned to translate photographs last year. Supporting more than 50 languages, to work without an Internet connection you must additionally download language packs for each language.
2. Translator Lingvo Dictionaries
The Russian development of ABBYY offers more than 50 basic dictionaries for 30 languages. It not only has a Photo Translation function, but also helps in learning foreign words, offers exercises, searching for a translated word on the Internet and many other interesting functions. Works autonomously. But, at least, it’s paid.
3. Translator ABBYY TextGrabber + Translator
Another ABBYY application, designed specifically for photo translation. Take a photo of the fragment you are interested in, after which the recognized text can be immediately edited, translated, sent by e-mail or SMS. An Internet connection is not required for text recognition; recognition is performed directly on the mobile device, but an Internet connection is required for translation.
4. Translator app
Another proprietary application is Bing's Translator for Windows Phone. It allows you to translate voice, scan and translate text, download dictionaries to your smartphone and work without a connection to the Internet. The translator also offers the Word of the Day service, which shows one word to memorize on the start screen.
5. Photo translator iSignTranslate
The iSignTranslate photo translator allows you to see signs, plates, signs in your language. You don't need to press anything, select anything, take a photo, just point your phone's camera at the text and the application will translate it automatically. An internet connection is required for translation.
Many of us have an endless passion for travel and mostly we have a need to translate from in English into Russian. We want to visit new cities and countries, get acquainted with other cultures, communicate with many new and interesting people. Of all the barriers that prevent us from fully enjoying new, vibrant travel experiences, the language barrier is one of the most important. Our inability to understand speech that is foreign to us becomes a significant obstacle to communication, which inspires us to search for ways to, if not eliminate, then at least smooth out this deficiency. One of these methods is the use of auxiliary programs that turn our smartphone into a fast and convenient translator of spoken and written speech. In this material, I will look at one of these mobile programs - “Translator from Google”, which allows not only to perform the usual oral and written translation, but also to translate the text on the photo we have. But first things first.
Google launched its web translation service back in 2006, and a few years later mobile forms of the translator for Android and iOS saw the light. At first, the application was criticized for its rather rigid, “machine” translation text, limited opportunities and unstable functionality. But carried out by developers Full time job in the matter, improving the capabilities of the application, as well as the transfer of the translator engine to “GNTP” (neural machine translation) in 2016, significantly improved its position, and now this tool not only one of the most popular, but also one of the most reliable.
An important step in the development of the application was Google’s purchase of Quest Visual, the developer of the Word Lens mobile application, which allows you to translate any foreign text using a camera. Google first made the mentioned program free, and then included it in the functionality of its translator, which learned not only to translate written and spoken speech, but also to translate using a mobile phone camera.
How to use Google Translator
The translator's capabilities allow you to use your smartphone's camera to translate text in real time, as well as translate text from a photo you've already taken.
To take advantage of the translator's capabilities, first of all, download it to your gadget (Android or iOS).
After launching, select the language from which the translation will be performed on the top left, and the language into which the translation will be performed on the right.
- To translate using a camera, click on the corresponding camera icon in the program menu on the left.
- Then point your phone camera at the text you need to translate, and you will almost immediately see its translation on the screen of your device.
Visually it looks something like this:
The second option Translating text from a photo involves taking a photograph and then translating the foreign text on it.
You can also translate text from English into Russian (for example) from an image already on your phone. To do this, you need to launch the application, click on the mentioned camera button, and then tap on the picture button to the left of the red bottom button (this will allow you to select a photo from the phone’s memory).
Other features of the translator allow you to use voice translation (a button with a microphone image), as well as text (a button with a snake image).
Is it possible to use image translations on a PC?
The best way to do this on a computer is to use . The version of Google translator on a PC in the form of the popular network service https://translate.google.com/?hl=ru does not allow processing of photographs with further translation of the text on them. Because alternative option is to use any Android emulator for Windows OS, which allows you to install this application on your computer and subsequently use its capabilities.
- Install one of the popular Android emulators on your PC (for example, Bluestacks 2 or Nox Player).
- Launch the emulator, log in, enter your Google account information.
- Then use the search to find Google Translator and install it.
- After that, find its icon on the emulator desktop, click on it, and use its capabilities on your PC (as far as it is functional).
Alternative solutions are to use a number of stationary programs at the “Screen Translator” level (you select a part of the screen with text, and the translator performs its translation). “Translator”, “Photron Image Translator” and other analogues that allow you to translate text from an existing image into the language we need.
The capabilities of “Photron Image Translator” claim to translate text from an image loaded into the program Conclusion
The capabilities of Google Translator allow us to quickly translate the text we need by simply pointing the camera of our smartphone at such text. Other features of the application include the translation of text on a photo already in the device’s memory, as well as the usual voice and text translation. If you are looking for alternatives to such a translator on a PC, then I recommend trying the stationary alternatives listed above, which in some cases are not inferior to their mobile counterpart.
Greetings, dear reader, Alexander Gavrin is in touch.
Today we’ll talk about what are online photo translators , what functionality they have and how they work.
Many people have long been accustomed to translators in smartphones, which can be used at any time. Now there are services that not only translate the entered text, but can also do it directly from a photo.
How it works?
Let's say the user needs to translate text that is on a photo or snapshot.
To do this, you need to extract the text and then translate it. To separate words from photos, you need to use OCR technology, which allows you to recognize text.
After this, the text is sent to a simple translator. At good quality image, any Internet text recognition services will do.
The scheme is built in two stages. The first is text extraction. The second is to translate the text using online service or applications on a PC or mobile device.
You can enter the text yourself, but you don’t always have time for this and it is a rather labor-intensive process.
To facilitate this operation, you need to combine two actions in one program. It is necessary for the application or service to recognize the text in the photo and at the same time translate it into Russian.
When using such photo translator applications, it is important to remember a few points:
Photo translators - applications
Let's look at some applications for mobile devices to get acquainted with their functionality.
Google photo translator
This application is one of the most popular in the store Google Play. Works Google translator Not only from photo, but also by manually entering text, that is, it can be used as a regular translator.
INSTALL APP
The program can easily work without Internet access. To do this, you will need to download language packs in advance. However, Google translator, translates from photo, which allows you to save space on your device.
No need to download unnecessary files. Additionally, the application has the function of speech recognition, translation of SMS messages and handwritten text.
In addition to translating foreign text, the program also displays its transcription. The application has some shortcomings regarding its actual operation, but they will probably be eliminated soon.
This app works in 30 languages and also supports photo translation. There are also exercises to help you remember words.
This is convenient when learning languages. All the words you need to translate are voiced by professional native speakers. You can add your own word forms to dictionaries.
INSTALL APP
When translating from a photo, the application works well. It is only necessary that the photo be taken at good lighting and not from a side angle.
If the photo was taken in poor conditions, the text will not be recognized even partially. The program will simply display a message about the impossibility of translation.
The application is constantly updated and improved, bugs that led to crashes and incorrect operation are corrected.
This application specializes in text recognition from photos. Its special feature is that it works with 60 languages, the packages of which are already built into the program.
This means that you won’t have to download them additionally. The text you work with can be saved on your phone.
INSTALL APP
It is also saved in the program's internal files and is easily accessible for basic functions.
The huge number of built-in languages somewhat slows down the scanning process, since it is necessary to initially recognize the language. To reduce work time, it is better to select the original language in advance.
A small drawback of the application may be that it only supports standard image formats.
In addition, the translation text is not formatted; it is issued in bulk. Paragraphs and other emphasis are ignored, leaving only spaces between words.
Photo Translate
This translator from photos into Russian works online. Without the Internet, he can only recognize text. The application does not have own base, which means you won’t be able to use it offline.
INSTALL APP
Applications for translating text from pictures are also available on Windows Phone. The program has a simple name and sufficient functionality.
It is developed by a search engine Bing. It contains additional function learning new words.
INSTALL APP
This is implemented through the “word of the day” displayed on the phone screen. An interesting feature is the ability to display translated text directly on top of the original.
It can be disabled. It may not be very convenient if the picture has small font and a lot of words.
iSignTranslate
Using the application, you can translate text into Russian in real time. This is convenient for translating text on the street, for example, signs, advertisements and other things. The program was created by Russian developers.
When downloading, only two languages are available - English and Russian. You can add 8 more languages to them, but they are only available for a fee.
The application uses third-party online translators from Bing, Yandex And Google. This means that you will need an Internet connection to operate.
INSTALL APP
The application has some glitches. For example, users are faced with the following problem: the camera produces an error that can only be corrected when pointing at another object.
The program recognizes only standard fonts ranging in size from 0.5 to 3 cm. Translating a small piece of text takes up to 20 seconds of holding the camera still.
Conclusion
When using this type of application, you should remember that machine translation will not be perfect. It will be approximate and some phrases, and sometimes sentences, will have to be translated independently.
This is a problem for any automatic translator. You can download photo translators for different mobile devices.
For each system there are several options that have their own advantages. Your choice will depend on your preferences and needs.
FIND OUT MORE
Sincerely, Alexander Gavrin.
To translate the text the usual method It’s not always convenient and quite tiring. We have already considered, but did not mention one more quick way translation on mobile devices. We are talking about photo translators.
Instead of entering text, you can take a photo with your phone camera and translate from it. Fortunately, in some translators the ability to convert text exists and at the same time works quite well. True, most of them only work online.
In this review, we will try to find out which photo translator from English into Russian, French (and other languages) best copes with its duties. It is important for us that this is an application that is easy to install and use comfortably on your phone.
Review participants:
Google Translate - the most functional photo translator for Android
The photo translator built into Google Translate is available as a mobile application (iOS, Android) and online service.
To translate from a picture, you need to specify the source and translation languages. Of course, there is an instant translation feature from your mobile phone camera. For this function to work, you need to download a language pack for the selected translation language.
In other cases, the photo translator works like this:
- First, you need to get an image through your phone camera,
- Then use text to select the area with the text that you want to translate,
- Wait a while for the image to be processed online.
Video instructions on how to translate text from a photo:
By the way, it is not necessary to receive images from your phone camera. Instead, you can load a previously saved photo into Google Translator (i.e., import). The translator will again need to specify the text zone, after which the translation will be available in the adjacent application window.
Photo translation is not available for all languages (of which there are more than 100 in Google Translator). However, it is possible to translate into English even from Japanese, Korean (not to mention French, German) and other languages into Russian.
For correct text recognition and, consequently, automatic translation, an active Internet connection is required. Unfortunately, this is not possible in photo mode.
Yandex Translator - online application for Android
Photo translation from Yandex works in the same way as Google. The main difference is in the number of supported languages. But, it should be noted that for the most popular, and not some exotic ones, there is support for photo translation. There is no Korean or Swedish, but Japanese is available. To avoid any confusion, check in advance that the required direction is available.
In the web version of the translator, you can drag a picture into the translation window; in the Android application, you can take a photo directly on the camera and transfer it for translation, which is very convenient.
At the same time, there are features that are missing in Google Translator. For example, text recognition mode: Words/Lines/Blocks. In cases where auto-recognition fails (which is quite understandable), Yandex can be helped in this way. Block translation allows you to translate not by words, but by sentences.
Other advantages of Yandex Translator include the fact that it is convenient to save the translated text in the form of cards for further study and memorization.
For photo translation in Yandex, the picture must be clearly readable. Sometimes difficulties arise even with good readable text, for example, from the cover of a book in large letters. Here you also need to make allowances for the quality of the phone’s camera; sometimes it’s useful to wipe the lens.
Transfer through this application is only possible with an online connection. At the same time, there are offline dictionaries for standard text translation; you can easily download them through the Yandex Translator settings (they won’t take up much space on your phone).
Microsoft Translator - a simple and fast photo translator for Android
Although Microsoft Translator does not have any settings for photo translation (except for selecting language directions), the application is quite convenient to use and copes with its functions - of course, if the source text is legibly displayed through the phone camera. To improve the readability of the source, you can activate the camera; This is easy to do in photo transfer mode by clicking on the flash icon and then taking a photo by clicking on the region with the text.
Microsoft Translator translates an image over the original
The translation is carried out on top of the main layer. This may not be the most optimal method, but nevertheless, the translated text can be read without any problems. In any case, the translation can be copied with one click and pasted, for example, into a text editor or other application.
There are quite a few directions in the Microsoft Translator. These are dozens of languages, some of them, by the way, are not available in Yandex Translator, so you can consider Microsoft Translator as an excellent addition or replacement for it.
The application works only in online mode. You can download it to your smartphone/tablet using the link:
ABBYY TextGrabber - an application for recognizing and translating text from photos
ABBYY has released the Lingvo translator and FineReader text digitizer. Meanwhile, there is another small but useful product that is a hybrid of these packages.
TextGrabber can digitize any text fragments. ABBYY TextGrabber is best suited for
- translation of texts from the screen of mobile devices and TV;
- photographs taken on camera;
- inscriptions, signs, road signs;
- documents and books, instructions.
In addition, you can convert the resulting text into links, search on the map and, of course, translate into Russian (and not only) from more than a hundred languages, including English, French, German, even Japanese and Chinese.
However, it should be noted that the translation capabilities of ABBYY TextGrabber are much more modest than those of Lingvo. The fact is that photo translation is carried out through third-party services, and not through the server ABBYY Lingvo, as one might assume.
To translate, it is enough to specify the language of recognition and the final result. You can save only in “raw” text form.
There is a big plus that sets TextGrabber apart from other translators. Namely: the recognition functions in TextGrabber work in offline mode (more than 50 languages are supported). Thus, the text can be digitized, copied and transferred to another translator with offline support, for example, from Yandex or Google. It’s inconvenient, but it’s a way out of a situation where you don’t have the Internet at hand, but you urgently need to translate from a photo.
Key features of the TextGrabber translator:
- You don't need to take a screenshot to recognize text;
- Support OCR for Russian, English, Korean, German and other languages offline;
- Automatic conversion of text into the required format - link, phone number, postal address or coordinates on the map;
- Online translation in more than 100 directions;
- Automatic copying of digitized text to the clipboard and conversion to voice;
- Saving and editing received text on your phone.
