Your instruction graphics help English-speaking customers succeed. For everyone else, they’re a barrier. Here’s how to localize them.
TLDR: Ready to help every customer succeed with your products? Install Product Image Translate Easy and display instructions in every customer’s language.
Your product requires instructions. Assembly steps for furniture. Usage guidance for electronics. Application directions for cosmetics. Care procedures for specialty items.
You’ve created clear, helpful instruction graphics – visual guides that show customers exactly how to use your product. They’re fantastic for English-speaking customers.
For everyone else, they’re a barrier.
Instruction graphics containing text need localization just like any other text-heavy content. This guide covers how to display different instruction images based on customer language in Shopify.
Text-based instructions work but visual instructions work better.
Clarity. A diagram showing where to plug cables communicates faster than paragraphs describing the same process.
Universal starting point. Visual instructions can be understood partially even across language barriers – if the text components are minimal.
Reduced support burden. Good instruction graphics answer questions before customers need to ask them.
Professional impression. Well-designed instruction visuals signal product quality and company competence.
For complex products, instruction graphics are often essential. Customers expect them and rely on them.
Instruction graphics typically combine visual elements (diagrams, photos, arrows, icons) with text elements (labels, step numbers, explanations, warnings).
The visual elements are often universal. An arrow pointing to a button means “press here” regardless of language. A diagram of product assembly shows physical relationships.
The text elements aren’t universal. “Step 1: Remove protective film” means nothing to someone who doesn’t read English. “Warning: Do not immerse in water” is critical safety information that customers must understand.
When your instruction graphics contain text – and most do – that text needs translation for international customers.
Instruction content can appear in multiple places throughout your Shopify store.
Product image galleries. Many merchants include instruction graphics as product images, allowing customers to see them while browsing.
Product descriptions. Embedded images within product descriptions can show instruction visuals inline with text.
Separate tabs or sections. Some themes support tabs for “Instructions” or “How to Use” with dedicated image content.
Downloadable PDFs. Instruction manuals as downloadable files offer another format, though this article focuses on in-page images.
Wherever instruction graphics appear, the localization challenge is the same: different customers need different language versions.
Shopify’s native functionality doesn’t support language-conditional image display. Upload an instruction graphic to your product gallery and it displays to everyone – German customers, French customers, Japanese customers – identically.
Translation apps handle text content: the product title saying “Assembly instructions included” gets translated. But the actual instruction image? Stays in English.
Some merchants try workarounds:
None of these serve international customers well.
Displaying language-appropriate instruction graphics requires detecting customer language and serving corresponding image variants. Product Image Translate Easy provides this capability.
You create instruction graphics for each target language. You upload these variants to the app and map them to language codes. When customers view your product in their language, they see instructions in their language.
The product listing stays unified. Inventory stays clean. But instruction content adapts to customer context.
Instruction graphics localization follows principles similar to other image types, with some specific considerations.
Start with universal visual elements. Design your instruction graphics with diagrams, photos, and icons as the foundation. These elements don’t need translation and communicate across languages.
Minimize text where possible. If an arrow and icon can replace a text label, use the visual approach. Less text means less translation work and more universal comprehension.
Keep text on separate layers. Your source files should have text elements editable independently from visual elements. This allows text swaps without recreating entire graphics.
Account for text expansion. German instructions may need 30% more space than English equivalents. Design text areas with room for longer translations.
Maintain step numbering. Step numbers are usually universal (1, 2, 3), but verify that number formatting doesn’t vary for your target markets.
Translate warnings carefully. Safety warnings and cautions need accurate, unambiguous translation. Don’t rely on machine translation for safety-critical text – use professional translation.
Test comprehension. Have native speakers review your localized instructions. Clear English instructions can become confusing when poorly translated.
Some instruction graphics include technical specifications: temperatures, measurements, electrical ratings, time durations.
These may need localization beyond simple translation:
Temperature. US instructions show Fahrenheit. Most international markets expect Celsius.
Measurements. US instructions show inches. International markets often expect metric.
Electrical specifications. Voltage and plug type references should match the destination market.
Date formats. “03/04/2025” means different things in US (March 4) versus European (April 3) contexts.
Localized instruction graphics should use appropriate units and formats for each market, not just translated words.
Here’s a practical workflow for instruction graphic localization.
Step 1: Identify products with instruction graphics. Not every product has them. Focus on products where you’ve included visual instructions in images.
Step 2: Audit instruction content. For each instruction graphic, identify text elements that need translation. Note any unit conversions needed (temperature, measurements).
Step 3: Create localized versions. Working from your source files, create instruction graphics for each target language. Maintain visual consistency while adapting text and units.
Step 4: Configure in Product Image Translate Easy. Upload your localized instruction variants and map them to appropriate language codes.
Step 5: Test thoroughly. Instruction graphics affect product usability. Test each localized version to ensure accuracy and clarity. Have native speakers verify.
Step 6: Update as products change. When you update products or instructions, update all language variants. Maintain version consistency.
If you have many products with instruction graphics, prioritize based on customer impact.
Safety-critical instructions first. Any product where incorrect usage could cause harm needs instruction localization as a priority.
Complex assembly products. Products requiring significant assembly generate support tickets when instructions aren’t clear. Localization reduces support burden.
High-return products. Products with elevated return rates may have instruction clarity issues. Localized instructions help customers succeed with products.
Best sellers in international markets. High-volume products justify localization investment through volume impact.
Instruction graphics are one component of complete product page localization. For maximum international impact, combine instruction localization with size chart localization for sized products, infographic localization for feature communications, and label localization for regulated products.
When a German customer views your product and sees instruction graphics in German with metric measurements, they can use your product successfully from day one. No translation guessing. No unit conversion errors. No confused support tickets.
This is the experience customers expect from a properly localized store. Instructions they can actually follow.
Ready to help every customer succeed with your products? Install Product Image Translate Easy and display instructions in every customer’s language.