Translate a poster into another language

Decide what stays in the original language

When you translate a poster, some words should not change at all. Performer and speaker names, venue names and sponsor names usually stay exactly as written, because people will search for them or look for them on a sign. Names are kept where possible, but to be sure, switch off Translate all text and untick any line that holds only a name before you translate. If a name inside a longer line still comes back changed, put the original back with the Edit text tool.

The event title is a choice. Some organizers keep a well-known name and translate only the tagline; others translate the whole title so that newcomers understand what the event is. Whichever you choose, use it the same way on every poster, flyer and social image for the event.

When the translation changes script

Translating between a Latin-script language such as English and a language such as Chinese or Japanese changes more than the words. Characters have different shapes and proportions, so a headline can look heavier, lighter, wider or narrower in the same space. Check the balance of the whole layout, not just the headline.

Ask a fluent reader to check every character, not only the meaning. A character that looks right to someone who cannot read it may still be wrong or malformed, especially in stylized display lettering.

Line breaks need the same attention. When a translation needs more room, the AI uses a smaller size or adds a line break inside the original text area, and a break in the wrong place in a long headline can split a word or phrase and change how it reads. If a break looks wrong, ask a fluent reader for a shorter version and type it in with the Edit text tool.

Proofread the details people act on

A poster that looks right but sends people to the wrong place or day has failed at its main job. Check these points against your own event details rather than the source poster alone, in case the source contained a mistake.

• Dates: dates written in numbers are kept as written where possible, and some audiences write the day before the month, so a numeric date can be misread. Spelling out the month with the Edit text tool avoids the problem.
• Days of the week: if the poster names a day, make sure it still matches the translated date.
• Times: in many countries the 24-hour clock is more familiar than AM and PM.
• Prices: prices are kept as written where possible, so the amount and the currency should match the original. If your audience writes numbers differently, such as a comma in place of a decimal point, change it with the Edit text tool.
• Addresses and contact details: street names, phone numbers, websites and social handles must stay exactly as they are, since people will type or search for them, so compare each one with the original.
• QR codes: scan any QR code on the downloaded poster, since parts of the image near the text can be altered too.