Use Google to Translate Text in Any Image
Let’s say you have an image that needs to be translated. Maybe it’s a still from the show and it’s using subtitles in a different language. Maybe it’s a photo of a sign with instructions or directions you can’t read. You might have a screenshot of an article on your phone that you wish you knew about but obviously can’t. Either way, you can try using Google Translate’s new “Image” section to get an idea of what the image is talking about.
The new option is based on the AR Translate Tool , the same tool Google Lens uses. You’ve been able to use this feature on mobile for a long time, but today its debut on desktop means it’s easier than ever to translate just about anything you need. Sorry Duolingo.
But the best part of this feature is not the simple translation itself. Google Translate overwrites the original text, replacing it with the translation as if it were the original language. Well, sort of. Translations appear in borders, as if someone took the printed versions of the words and pasted them over the originals. In some cases it’s pretty easy, while in others it’s a bit like an arts and crafts project. However, it makes the translations easier to read, and that’s the point.
To try it out, go to Google Translate in your web browser or mobile app. In the browser, select the “Pictures” option that appears, and on a mobile device, select “Camera”, then tap the image icon on the screen. Upload a photo from your device (you may have to grant permission to your photo library depending on the device you’re using) and Google will get to work.
After Google translates the text, you can select parts of it to copy elsewhere, have Google Translate read it aloud (mobile), download a copy (desktop), or send it back to the Translate app (mobile).