🖼️ How to translate Adobe Illustrator files

This guide shows you how to extract, translate, and reimport text in Adobe Illustrator using Redokun's free scripts. It's ideal for designers who want to streamline translation without losing formatting or layout.

🎬 Preview: How the process works

Want a quick look at what this workflow looks like in action?

Watch this short video to see how the Illustrator scripts streamline translation from start to finish—once they’re installed and ready to use.

❗ The interface shown in the video is from an older version of Redokun. The platform has since been updated with a much more streamlined and user-friendly experience

📅 1. Install the Illustrator scripts

To get started, you’ll need to install Redokun’s scripts in Adobe Illustrator:

Download the scripts from the Redokun website.
Locate the Scripts folder on your computer:
- On Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version]\Presets\en_US\Scripts\
- On macOS: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator [version]/Presets/en_US/Scripts/
Copy the .jsx files into the Scripts folder.
Restart Illustrator to load the new scripts.

❗ Note: If your Illustrator uses a different language setting (not en_US ), adjust the folder path accordingly.

📄 2. Export text from Illustrator

Open your Illustrator document.
Go to File > Scripts > redokun_export-text.jsx.
If no document is open, select a folder containing .ai , .eps , or .svg files.
Illustrator extracts all editable text and saves it to a .json file.

🌍 2. Upload, translate, and download in Redokun

Redokun makes it easy to speed up and collaborate on translations:

Use Pre-Translate to automatically fill in content from your Translation Memory or AI Translation.
Work together with your team to review and refine translations online.

Once you have your .jsonF file:

Upload the file to your Document List.
Choose your source language and add one or more target languages.
Assign translators, translate online or offline, then confirm all segments.
Download the translated XLIFF file when finished.

For detailed steps, see: 📘 Translate a document online

For the collaboration steps, see: 🧑‍💼 Collaborate on a document

📁 4. Import the translated text back into Illustrator

Make sure your Illustrator files are in the same state as when you exported them.
Go to File > Scripts > redokun_import-text.jsx.
Select the folder containing your original Illustrator files (if prompted).
When asked, choose your translated .json file.
The script updates each file with the new translations.

⚠️ Known limitations

Formatting (e.g., bold or italics) may not be preserved.
Outlined text cannot be extracted or replaced—make sure all text is editable.
Changes after export: If the files are edited post-export, re-export the text to avoid issues.

By following these steps, you can efficiently translate your Adobe Illustrator files without compromising layout or quality.