Translucent PMN and PMN-PT ceramics were prepared from nano-sized powders produced by a high-energy ball milling process. A two-step process was used to achieve the translucent PMN and PMN-PT ceramics, in which samples were sintered at 950degreesC for I h at first and then annealed at 1000degreesC for 6-24 h. Transmittances at 600 nm wavelength of the PMN, PMN-0.10PT and PMN-0.35PT ceramics annealed for 12 h were 21, 16 and 11%, respectively. The formation mechanism of translucent PMN and PMN-PT ceramics in the present work is similar to that of transparent PLZT ceramics.