Introduction
Reading foreign comics and manga can be quite a struggle if you cannot understand the dialogue. Translating an illustrated page can also be a bit more complex as you have to identify text in speech bubbles, remove the original text and fit new translated text into the page.
AI tools have made this easier. Some online tools use OCR, machine translation, image editing and automatic typesetting to help you translate your comic page.
MangaTranslate is an online tool that allows you to translate manga and illustrated pages.
In this guide you'll find out how it works, what the free credits allow you to do, what editing features it offers and what to consider when using it for a larger project. We'll also show you how to determine the quality of the translated page.
Note: This article is information based and uses publicly available information and materials that have been provided for editorial consideration. We have not independently tested this product.
What is MangaTranslate?
MangaTranslate is a web-based AI translation tool that can translate illustrated pages.
From the official site you can upload images and documents. It will identify text, translate it and remove the original text. You can then use the automatic typesetting feature to clean up the background. You can also open your translated image in an online editor.
You can find out more about the tool here:
Explore MangaTranslate
This can be used for;
- Understanding foreign comic dialogue.
- Exploring illustrated content in another language.
- Translating content you own/are allowed to translate.
- Reviewing the translated text before exporting.
- Batch processing multiple pages.
Whether it will work will depend on the content you're translating, model selected, credits available and how much manual editing you'll have to do.
How does AI manga translation work?
AI manga translators will usually use the following steps;
Text Recognition
Firstly the software will attempt to identify text in the image you've uploaded. This is usually known as OCR (Optical Character Recognition).
The software will need to identify text from the artwork and ensure the characters are correct. If the text is clear and printed it will be easier to work with than unusual fonts, handwriting, distorted text or text that sits on a complex background.
If the original text is not identified correctly then the translation may not be correct.
Translation
Once the text has been identified the platform will translate the text into your required language.
You need to ensure you select the correct source and target languages. The quality of the translation may also depend on the context, character names, idioms, humour and phrases that do not translate directly.
The sentence may be grammatically correct but not sound natural.
Removal of Original Text
The software may attempt to remove the original dialogue and identify the background.
This can be tricky if the speech bubbles overlap the artwork, the background is intricate or the text is sitting on top of a character/object.
The automatic background repair may not be perfect.
Typesetting
The translated dialogue will need to fit into the speech bubbles/text.
MangaTranslate advertise automatic typesetting. However there are editing functions which allow you to fix the text, positioning, font and layout.
Even if the translation makes sense you may need to make changes to ensure the text fits nicely.
Review & Export
Finally you'll need to review the translated image and fix any issues.
If this is an important project then you should review the translation. Even if it looks professionally typeset there may be an error in the translation, missing dialogue or changed meaning.
How do the free credits work?
One of the main things you should know before using this tool is how much you can actually do for free.
From the official FAQ you can see that you can translate 5 images per day for free using the same public IP address. If you have an account you can also claim 5 credits each day. How many credits you use depends on the model you select.
[View the official FAQ]
Note: 5 Credits may not = 5 Pages
Credits are units of use. From the website you can see that different models use different amounts of credits. Ensure you check how much it costs to use your chosen model.
From the official homepage you can see that the "Manga" model costs 1 credit per page. The "Ultra" model costs 2. The models and prices can vary so ensure you check how much it costs to use in the interface.
If the model you're using costs 1 credit per page you could theoretically translate 5 pages. If it costs 2 credits per page you'll be able to translate less.
Public IP Address
The 5 free credits are shared across the public IP address. If multiple people are using the same public internet connection then you may not be able to use the full amount.
Opening multiple tabs or using multiple devices will not give you multiple free allowances.
If you have an account ensure you check how many credits you have and how many you can get from the daily check-in.
When will you need to pay?
If you want to translate multiple pages, try out the higher priced models or want to translate a larger project then the free allowance may not be enough.
You can pay to use this tool by purchasing credits. View the current price, how many credits you get, the renewal terms, payment terms and refund policy from the official site.
Consider how much it will cost to complete your task and how much manual editing you'll have to do.
Test MangaTranslate
Before translating an entire chapter of a comic try using a small sample of original artwork/content you are allowed to use.
This will help you understand how the process works.
Step 1 – Choose a sample you're allowed to use
Choose an easy image with dialogue that you can understand. If you're using someone else's comic ensure you have permission to use it.
A short sample with a couple of speech bubbles can help you to see if the text is being identified and the meaning remains.
Step 2 – Check your credits
Before uploading ensure you have credits available and how much it costs to use the model.
Ensure you know what source languages you can use, what target languages you can use and if you need to specify the original language.
This will help to avoid unexpected charges and choosing the wrong model.
Step 3 – Generate
Follow the instructions to choose the languages, model and upload your image. If it doesn't automatically start translating.
Note what happens. Did you have any issues accessing it? Were there any warnings? Did it take any credits? Did it fail to process?
Don't assume it has worked.
Step 4 – Check the dialogue
Check all the speech bubbles.
Have all the speech bubbles been identified?
Is anything missing?
Does the translated sentence make sense?
Are character names and important words consistent?
Does it sound natural in the target language?
If you cannot understand the source language ask a competent speaker/translator to check.
Step 5 – Check the text and background
Zoom in to a readable size.
Check there isn't any missing background detail. Is there any text left from the original? Has any text been misplaced? Are there any awkward line breaks? Has any text gone outside of the speech bubbles?
Even if it has been translated well you may need to do a lot of manual editing.
Step 6 – Edit & Export
If you need to edit the generated content use the online editor. Check the dialogue, font, and layout. Export the file.
Ensure you check the exported file. Keep the original image to compare with the final result.
Features to Consider
MangaTranslate advertises several features that may be useful for different workflows.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Image and PDF processing | Can make it easier to work with supported illustrated files and documents. |
| OCR and text recognition | Identifies dialogue that needs to be translated. |
| Background repair | Attempts to reconstruct areas where original text has been removed. |
| Automatic typesetting | Places translated text back into the image. |
| Online editing | Allows users to correct dialogue, fonts and layout. |
| Batch processing | Can help with larger sets of pages, subject to the applicable account limits. |
| Multiple models | Gives users different processing options with potentially different credit costs. |
These are advertised capabilities, not independently verified performance results. Their effectiveness should be assessed using the specific languages and artwork relevant to your project.
Note: These are advertised features. The effectiveness will depend on the languages and artwork you are using.
Things to be aware of
Although this can save you some manual work there are still some issues.
Translation errors
Characters may use sarcasm, slang, references and phrases that depend on the story around them. This may not be picked up by the automated translation.
If the dialogue is important to the story it's still a good idea to review the content.
Complex artwork
Removing text from a complex background may leave some artefacts. The background may not look like the original.
If the text isn't in a standard place you may need to do more editing.
Text editing
Different languages have different sentence lengths. The translated sentence may be longer than the original and not fit nicely into the speech bubble.
Be prepared to alter the text size, position, spacing and wording.
Limited free use
You won't be able to use an unlimited amount of credits per day. Depending on the model you're using you may not be able to translate as many pages. The free credits are best seen as a way to try out the process.
Copyright
Just because you can upload and translate an image doesn't mean you can reproduce, distribute or make money from it.
Ensure you're using your own content or content you're allowed to use. Check the copyright rules.
Should I try MangaTranslate?
If you want to understand how AI can assist with translating manga and have a small sample you're allowed to use then this could be worth trying.
It advertises a range of features including text identification, translation, background repair, typesetting and an online editor. You can also use the daily credits to try out the service. Whether you should pay depends on how well it works.
Consider how well the translation, background repair, text fitting, model credit cost and manual editing will work with your content.
We have not independently tested this product using the sample provided so we cannot recommend it based on the accuracy of the translation or time saving.
You can view the current features and free credits on the [official site].
FAQ
Is this free?
MangaTranslate advertise free daily credits. Registered users can also get free credits from the daily check-in. How many pages you can translate depends on the model you're using and how many credits you have.
Will I be able to translate 5 images?
Not necessarily. Different models will use different amounts of credits. Ensure you check how much it costs to use your model.
Can I translate an entire manga chapter?
MangaTranslate advertise batch processing however how many you can translate will depend on your account, credits, file requirements and model. Don't assume you'll be able to translate an entire chapter for free.
Can I edit the translated dialogue?
From the official FAQ you can open successfully translated images in an online editor. You can edit the dialogue, move text boxes, change fonts and modify the layout.
Will the AI translation be accurate?
No. There can be errors with the translation. Phrases that depend on context, names, humour and references may not be picked up. Important dialogue should be reviewed.
Do I have to pay?
No. You can try out the free credits first. If you need more you can purchase credit packs. Check the current terms and pricing.
Can I publish my translated manga?
No. Unless you have the rights/permission to publish.
Final Thoughts
MangaTranslate is an example of how AI can be used to identify text, translate, repair backgrounds and typeset in an online process. The free credits mean readers can try out the process. However how many pages you can translate will depend on the model you're using and how many credits you have.
Start with a small sample of something you're allowed to use. Check the generated dialogue and artwork. Fix any issues and work out how much it will likely cost.
The main thing to consider is whether the AI translation will keep the meaning, look readable and not require too much manual editing.
Explore the tool: MangaTranslate official website
Editorial Disclosure
This product came to our attention via an unsolicited suggestion from our outreach rep. This is not a sponsored post and we have not been paid to include this. We have not independently tested this product. The features and credit information have been taken from publicly available information from the company. Please ensure you check the official site for accuracy.
