How to Translate a Supplier's Product Catalog PDF and Check the Specs
To understand a product catalog from a foreign supplier, translate the PDF and keep each original page next to its translation. Use the translation to understand what each product is, then check the details you will order by on the original: model numbers, specifications, units, tolerances, materials and order terms. A catalog is something you buy from, so the details matter more than the wording.
Who is this guide for?
It is for buyers, small importers, shop owners and engineers who received a product catalog, brochure or spec sheet PDF in a language they do not read comfortably, and who need to pick the right item and ask the supplier the right questions.
Step by step
- Ask the supplier for the catalog as a PDF exported from their design file, not a photo of the printed brochure, if they have one.
- Upload the PDF to iSomor and choose your language. For a thick catalog, translate only the product sections you are considering.
- Download the result in the Side by side layout, so each translated page sits next to the original. The setup is explained in how to create a bilingual PDF for side-by-side review.
- Read the product descriptions in the translation to shortlist items, then go through the checklist below with the original page open.
- Write your shortlist and your questions for the supplier using the model numbers and values exactly as they appear on the original page.
What should you check against the original?
| Detail | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Model and part numbers | One wrong character means a different product | Copy them from the original page, never from the translation |
| Specification tables | Values and column headings can shift when text wraps | Read each value you rely on in the original table |
| Units and decimal marks | mm vs inch, kg vs lb, and 1,5 vs 1.5 differ by country | Note the unit and decimal style the catalog uses |
| Tolerances and ranges | "±0.1" or "10–20" is easy to misread | Check the symbols and both ends of the range |
| Materials and finishes | Grade names and surface finishes may have no exact equivalent | Look up the original term and ask the supplier if unsure |
| Standards and marks | A mark printed in an image may not be translated at all | Read the original page and ask for the supporting documents |
| Minimum order, lead time, packing | These terms shape the deal | Confirm them in writing with the supplier |
Comparing key facts is covered in more detail in how to check a PDF translation against the original.
What about a printed brochure or photos from a trade fair?
Take a clear photo or scan of each page, flat and in good light. To translate scans and photos, sign in with Google or an email link and complete account verification. The text is recognized before translation, and recognition can misread or omit content, especially small print in tables, so check every model number and value against the photo. Tips are in how to photograph document pages for translation.
What are the limits?
- Text inside product photos, diagrams and logos is not translated, so read those parts on the original.
- Layout is kept where possible; translated text can be longer and wrap differently on dense catalog pages and tables.
- Fillable fields in order forms are not kept in the translated PDF, so fill in the supplier's original form.
- The translation helps you understand the catalog. It does not confirm that a product meets your requirements or local rules; confirm that with the supplier and, where needed, a qualified specialist.
- When you move from catalog to agreement, read the supplier's terms carefully too; see how to read a foreign vendor contract or NDA PDF side by side.
FAQ
Can I send the translated catalog to my team?
Yes, for internal review. When you contact the supplier, quote the model numbers and values from their original catalog so there is no doubt about which item you mean.
Will the translation convert inches to millimetres?
Do not count on it. Treat every unit and value in the translation as something to check against the original, and convert it yourself.
The catalog is 200 pages. Do I need to translate all of it?
No. Extract the sections you need into a smaller PDF and translate only those.
A product name was translated oddly. What should I do?
Product and series names are often brand names. Use the name on the original page when you search or ask the supplier.
Have a supplier catalog you can't fully read? Upload the PDF to iSomor, download it Side by side, and check the model numbers and specs against the original before you order.