Scanlation facts for kids

Scanlation (pronounced "scan-lay-shun") is a cool word for when fans take comics, usually from Japan (called manga) or Korea (called manhwa), and make them available in other languages.

Here's how it works: Fans use an image scanner to copy the pages of a comic book. Then, they translate the text from the original language (like Japanese or Korean) into a new language, often English, French, or Spanish. After translating, they edit the images to put the new text into the speech bubbles, making it look like a professional comic.

What is Scanlation?

Scanlation is a mix of "scanning" and "translation." It's a way for fans around the world to read comics that might not be officially available in their language yet. It's all done by volunteers who love these comics and want to share them with others.

Why Do Fans Scanlate?

Fans create scanlations for a few main reasons:

• Sharing stories: Many comics are popular in their home country but aren't released officially in other parts of the world right away, or sometimes ever. Scanlation helps these stories reach a wider audience.
• Learning and practice: Some fans use scanlation as a way to practice their language skills, especially Japanese or Korean, and their digital art or editing skills.
• Community: Scanlation teams often work together online, creating a community of people who share similar interests.

How Scanlation Works

Making a scanlation involves several steps, usually done by a team of people:

• Raw Provider: This person buys the original comic book and scans each page into a digital file.
• Translator: They translate the text from the original language into the new language.
• Cleaner/Redrawer: This person cleans up the scanned images, removing the original text from the speech bubbles and sometimes redrawing parts of the art if needed.
• Typesetter: They take the translated text and place it neatly into the speech bubbles on the cleaned pages, choosing fonts that match the comic's style.
• Quality Checker: This person reviews the finished pages to make sure there are no mistakes in translation, grammar, or image quality.

The History of Scanlation

Scanlation started becoming popular in the early 2000s, especially with the rise of the internet. Before that, if you wanted to read a Japanese or Korean comic in English, you often had to wait for an official company to release it, which could take a long time or never happen.

With the internet, fans could easily share digital files and work together from different parts of the world. This made it much easier for scanlation groups to form and share their work with a global audience.

Is Scanlation Legal?

This is a tricky question. Scanlation usually involves copying and translating copyrighted material without permission from the original creators or publishers. This means it's generally not allowed by law in many countries.

However, many scanlation groups see themselves as promoting the comics they love. They often encourage readers to buy the official versions if they become available. Some creators and publishers have different views on scanlation; some don't mind it as much, especially if it helps spread awareness of their work, while others strongly oppose it because it can affect their sales.

The Future of Comics

Today, more and more comics are being released digitally and officially translated much faster than before. This means fans have more ways to read their favorite stories legally. Even with official options growing, scanlation continues to be a way for fans to access a huge variety of comics from around the world.

See also

In Spanish: Scanlation para niños