CAT Tool File Filters: Preserve Tags and Structure
Learn how CAT tool file filters separate translatable text from markup, protect inline tags, and validate exported files without breaking the source.
Translation Blog
Translation tips, AI insights & freelance guides
Scanned PDFs in OmegaT, MateCat and Wordfast: What Each Can Do
OmegaT has no OCR, MateCat reads scans into DOCX, Wordfast Anywhere converts them to Word. Steps, limits, costs and the OCR-first route for each tool.
How to Translate a Scanned PDF in Phrase TMS (and XTM Cloud)
Phrase TMS has three PDF filters and only PDF v2 runs OCR. Which one to pick, why photos won't import, what XTM Cloud does with scans and the DOCX routes.
How to Translate a Scanned PDF in Smartcat: 3 Routes Compared
Smartcat runs OCR, but its default AI PDF Translation rejects scans. Where pdfimageonly fits, how OCR pages are billed and how to get Word back, not a PDF.
How to Translate a Scanned PDF in memoQ 12.5: OCR, Import, Export
memoQ 12.5 can't read a scan. Run OCR outside it, import the Word file or searchable PDF with the right filter mode, and know what you can deliver back.
How to Translate a Scanned PDF in Trados Studio 2024 and 2026
Studio 2024 and 2026 have no built-in OCR. What works for a scan now: PDF Assistant, OCR to Word first, a scan-to-Word copy, and the checks after import.
Xbench False Positives: Prioritise a 500-Item QA Report
Turn a 500-item Xbench QA report into a focused review: sort warnings by risk, mark confirmed false alarms, tune checks, and export the right results.
Why CAT Tools Break PDF Tables and Multi-Column Layouts
Learn why CAT tools scramble PDF tables and columns, how to check reading order before translation, and when OCR, document repair, or layout review is needed.
Trados Scanned PDF Import: Why It Fails and What Agencies Do
Learn why Trados and memoQ struggle with image-only PDFs, how to diagnose missing text, and how agencies prepare OCR output for CAT tools.
Adaptive Machine Translation: What It Is and When It Actually Pays Off
What adaptive machine translation is, how it differs from standard MT, when it genuinely saves time and money, and when it doesn't - with real tools, concrete numbers, and honest limitations.
Bilingual Review for MTPE: Side-by-Side Checking Best Practices
Master bilingual review workflows for MTPE quality control. Learn error detection techniques, tools, and proven strategies to catch MT flaws that look fluent.
How to Integrate Machine Translation into Your CAT Tool Pipeline
Step-by-step guide to connect MT engines in Trados, memoQ, Phrase, and Smartcat. Compare integration options, boost MTPE efficiency by 2-3x, and implement quality controls.
Automated QA Checks Every MTPE Workflow Needs
Essential automated quality assurance checks for machine translation post-editing workflows. Terminology, formatting, numbers, tags - what to validate and how it saves 25-40% of editing time.
Hiring Post-Editors: The Skills That Differ from Translators
Why great translators often fail at MTPE - and what specific skills to test for when hiring post-editors for your agency or team.
How to Preserve Formatting When Translating Word, PDF, and Excel Documents
Why translation breaks formatting in Word, PDF, and Excel - and how to prevent it: the right tools, file preparation tips, CAT tools, and common mistakes with concrete solutions.
Is Trados Free? Pricing, Trial, and 4 Real Alternatives in 2026
Trados Studio has no free version - only a 14-day trial, then subscriptions from £240/year. Compare OmegaT, Smartcat, CafeTran and Wordfast as real free alternatives.
memoQ vs Smartcat vs Wordfast: Which CAT Tool for a Small Translation Agency
Comparing memoQ, Smartcat and Wordfast for small translation agencies: 2026 pricing, licensing, PM features and a decision guide for teams under 10 people.
Smartcat, memoQ and Crowdin Pricing in 2026: Plans Compared
Smartcat is free for freelancers, memoQ costs €360/year, Crowdin starts at $50/month. Full breakdown of plans, features, and who each platform actually fits.
Trados Studio Pricing 2026: Licenses, Subscriptions, Freelance vs Professional Editions
Full breakdown of Trados Studio pricing in 2026 - Go, Freelance and Professional subscriptions, what's included in each edition, when it pays off, and when a cheaper alternative wins.
memoQ vs Trados Studio in 2026: Which CAT Tool Should Freelancers Pick
Honest comparison of memoQ and Trados Studio for freelancers - pricing, AI features, usability, file formats. With real translator reviews and numbers.
Translation Memory: How to Maintain, Clean and Monetize Your TM
A practical guide to TM management - organizing, cleaning duplicates, tools for maintenance and ways to earn from your accumulated translation database.
Trados Studio 2025 Review: Worth the Price for Freelancers?
An honest look at Trados Studio 2025 - real pricing, new features, known bugs, and alternatives compared. No marketing fluff.
SDL MultiTerm: How to Build a Termbase from Scratch
Step-by-step guide to creating a termbase in MultiTerm - from first launch to importing glossaries from Excel. With real tips and alternatives.
OmegaT: Free CAT Tool for Beginner Translators - Full Guide
Honest review of OmegaT 6.0 - the free open-source CAT tool with TM, glossaries, and QA. How to set up, configure, and whether it's enough for real work.
Free Cloud CAT Tools: Smartcat, MateCat, Phrase Compared
Free cloud CAT tools for translators: Smartcat, MateCat, Wordfast Anywhere, and Phrase compared - pricing, limits, features, and real user reviews.
CAT Tools for Translators: Trados vs MemoQ vs Smartcat in 2026
Honest comparison of the three biggest CAT tools for translators - Trados, MemoQ, Smartcat. Pricing, features, pros, cons, and which one fits you.