Solved How to modify text in a .jpg attachment so it is displayed in English?

[spc3rd]

Good morning everyone,

As a moderator in another forum, members requesting help will sometimes include screenshots, for example, of a particular "error message" they may be receiving. Since the program is available in several languages, the screenshot a member posts may be in their own primary language - not in English.

I have been unable to come up with a way to edit such a screenshot so the text within it is shown in English, and then include the "English version" of the screen capture beneath the originally-posted image. Have tried Google Translate, but it doesn't seem to be of any help. There doesn't seem to be a way (I can find) to copy the non-English text and translate it from a screenshot.
(I've attached a sample .jpg image from a recent forum post as an example of what I'm referring to).

My question: If there is a way to accomplish the task I described, I would appreciate it if you could refer me to a source of info about this? :banghead:

Thank you for your time and any enlightenment!

 

[Boozad]

Not that I know to. Couldn't the user who posted the screenshot just translate the text in their post for you?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi yep that's some expensive OCR software there buddy

 

[spc3rd]

Hi Boozad and much obliged for your reply!

Asking a member to translate their error message (in this case) is indeed an option. Some of our longer-tenured members will go ahead and do just such a translation prior to posting. I was inquiring here just on the off-chance there was a way for me to translate the message myself, rather than having to ask the forum member to reply back with it.

(For ThashZone): Thanks very much for your follow-up as well! (We must have been posting at the same time as I didn't see your reply until after I posted to Boozad).

Cheers!

 

[ThrashZone]

It might be possible to use a free vector program Inkscape to turn the images into vector images and extract the vectors/ text from it and save it or paste it into a text file
The background would have to be removed but Inkscape is very capable of doing that easily it pretty much does that by default.

 

[LMiller7]

You would need to scan the screenshot with an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program and then run that through Google translater.

 

[spc3rd]

Thank you both very much for your respective, informative replies, ThrashZone and LMiller7!

It'll take me a little while to read-up & digest the info. At least you've provided me a good place to start "digging some more!"

Have a good weekend!

 

[Boozad]

To be honest for how long it would take it probably would be quicker just to ask for a translation from the user.

 

[ThrashZone]

Tracing a bitmap doesn't take very long it happens in seconds and Inkscape is one of the best at it = better than corel draw.
Since the images have only 2 colors to worry about = black and white should be the cheapest way to go
Once you have the white out of the way google might be able to do something with the black left over

I haven't noticed the file export options in Inkscape you might get lucky there and have a doc.... export option ?

 

[Boozad]

Tracing a bitmap doesn't take very long it happens in seconds and Inkscape is one of the best at it = better than corel draw.
Since the images have only 2 colors to worry about = black and white should be the cheapest way to go
Once you have the white out of the way google might be able to do something with the black left over

'Could you post the message in English please?'

Got to be quicker.

 

[ThrashZone]

lol yep nope I don't have Inkscape installed anymore
I know corel won't do it well enough

 

[Boozad]

I'm sure there are programs out there that will do it somehow, someway. To me it just seems a very convoluted way of going about it, maybe post a disclaimer that posts on the site must be in English?

 

[Layback Bear]

This forums Rules/Guidelines work well.
This is just a suggestion from me and nobody else.
This puts the needed translation on the poster instead of every other members to translate. This method seems to work well as far as I can tell.

http://www.sevenforums.com/misc.php?do=showrules

12) This is an English based site. Please only post in English, or provide an English translation in your posts.

 

[spc3rd]

Just wanted to thank everyone who's responded to my OP and the feedback provided!

At this point, I consider the issue presented to be "solved."

Best regards to all!