What is Multilingual DTP (Desktop Publishing) ?

If you landed here, it might be because you know what Multilingual DTP, and you’re looking for this type of service. Or maybe you just came here out of curiosity and will end up realizing that maybe your business is, indeed, needing it.

This is like when you find a technological gadget that changes your life. It takes you by surprise, thinking that you had a certain situation sorted out. And suddenly this little tool solves it better or faster. Or in a more holistic and efficient way. Thereafter, the gadget will become a kind of must-have for you, right?

The DTP is not a gadget, but it can be equally necessary and a game-changer. For yourself, your company’s staff, and most importantly, your customers.

Confused? Then consider this example: You have a piece of content that includes relevant graphics. Your linguistic partner takes care of making the texts multilingual. So far, so good. But what about the graphics? Just copy and paste? Multilingual desktop publishing services, or Multilingual DTP for short, are useful in this situation.

Let’s have a look at the ins and outs of the matter to understand if this is what your business needs—and why.

How can these pitfalls be avoided?

These pitfalls can be avoided by working with a professional localization team that understands the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target audience. The team should have experience in DTP localization and be familiar with the software and tools needed to create professional and culturally appropriate documents. It’s also essential to test the final product with a native speaker or cultural expert to ensure the message is clear and compelling.

Leave enough space for longer translations

One common issue with DTP localization is needing to leave more space for longer translations, which can result in a visually unappealing document. To avoid this, it’s essential to work with a localization team that can anticipate the space needed for different translations and can adjust the design and layout accordingly.

Use software that supports multiple languages

DTP localization also requires the use of software that supports multiple languages. This can guarantee a smooth translation and localization process as well as a polished and eye-catching end result. It is crucial to collaborate with a localization team that is knowledgeable about the programs and resources required to produce excellent localized documents.

In order to ensure that the final design is successful with all target audiences, localization is crucial when releasing multilingual DTP content. By working with a professional localization team that understands the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target audience, leaving enough space for longer translations, taking cultural differences in design preferences into account, testing the final product with a native speaker or cultural expert, and using software that supports multiple languages, these pitfalls can be avoided.

Ultimately, DTP localization is a complex process that requires attention to detail and expertise to create high-quality localized documents that effectively communicate a message to a global target audience. To ensure you have all the help you need regarding Multilingual DTP, be on the lookout for our upcoming guide covering Desktop Publishing for Translation Best Practices. If you have any immediate questions or needs, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Multilingual DTP as a Component of a More Comprehensive Translation Procedure

An optimized translation and localization process goes beyond words and takes the complete product into account when adapting it for a new audience. The formatting and optimization of the translation files and graphic content is crucial in this.

Multilingual DTP is part of a larger translation process where Project Managers coordinate native, in-country translators and DTP experts to deliver a product that is fully optimized for the market you are looking to expand into. What does this process look like specifically, you wonder?

 Multilingual DTP Have a look:

• First, the translatable content is extracted and sent to the linguists for translation.
• Then the content will be exposed to the Translation, Editing, and Proofreading (TEP) process, which ensures Quality Control on every level.
• The translated content is then sent to the DTP Team, who will incorporate it back into the design.
• Then, the DTP team will adjust the design to fit the new content and make sure that it is completely adapted to the new language as well as the local culture and its expectations and sensitivities.
• Visual, linguistic, and technical Quality Assurance will be performed to make sure that no errors have slipped in during the process.
• The Project Manager will review the final product before sending it to the client for feedback.

A New Layout To Fit Complex Language

When formatting complicated languages and characters, DTP services are also helpful. To make the product or document visually appealing and readable in this situation, Multilingual DTP specialists frequently have to reconsider the original design. And while some programs and platforms have developed a multilingual system that is supposed to make localization easier, human expertise and intuition is still paramount to bringing it all together neatly.

Let’s take Storyline eLearning Localization as an example. While Storyline has a number of impressive features that support localization, they are still not quite ready to effectively support the more complex languages. For example, English speakers, as you know, read from left to right (LTR) while other languages like Arabic, Hebrew, or Farsi are read from right to left (RTL). Asian languages such as Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, are read in columns, top to bottom. While Storyline does technically support these, DTP Professionals will still need to optimize the layout for optimal results since UX issues will still sneak in. Pro Tip! Learn more about how you can maximize Storyline’s multilingual features and where human expertise comes in in our blog How To Localize Your Storyline eLearning Courses Pro Tip! Do you use Canva to create your graphics? Visit our blog, How To Translate Your Canva Designs?, to learn how to modify your Canva design for a multilingual audience.

Super DTP Ltd is a specialized desktop publishing agency located in Gabrovo Bulgaria, offering book publishing, multilingual DTP, and E-learning localization services to translation agencies and localization companies worldwide! Check our services at www.superdtp.com or contact us at dtp.bulgaria@gmail.com for further details.