Preparing Documents for Translation: Photos, Handwriting, Notes
We translate from a scan or a photo, and you don't need to send the original. The clearer the image and the more you tell us about tricky spots up front, the fewer questions come up along the way.
How to photograph a document
Lay the document flat and shoot it in good light. All four edges of the page should be in the frame. Check for glare, shadows, and blurry text.
If a stamp or an entry is small, add a separate close-up, but keep the photo of the whole page too. Send the original files in good quality, with no filters or retouching.
If the handwriting is hard to read
If you know what a handwritten entry says, send a typed transcription and point out where in the document it belongs. It helps the translator.
The translator still checks your note against the original. Your notes can't stand in for text that's missing or completely illegible.
If part of it can't be read
First, try to get a clearer scan or retake the photo of that spot. If it still can't be read, the translator marks the passage as illegible. They won't guess at a date, a name, or the text of a stamp.
That mark honestly reflects the condition of the document, but it doesn't guarantee the recipient will accept the document as is.
How abbreviations are handled
An abbreviation is spelled out when its meaning is clear from the document and the context. If it could mean more than one thing, the translator won't just pick the convenient one: they'll ask you, keep the abbreviation as is, or explain it in a note.
What translator's notes are for
A translator's note explains something about the original: an illegible spot, an ambiguous abbreviation, a name spelled more than one way. It's clearly separated from the text of the document.
You can point the translator to a tricky spot, but a note only says what the translator can reasonably confirm. A note doesn't correct the original or fill in information that isn't there.
What to send with your order
Every page of the document, plus a short list of spots that might raise questions. If a photo doesn't let us read something important, we'll tell you which part to retake.
