DESKTOP PUBLISHING SERVICE (DTP)
Desktop Publishing (DTP) Service involves the arrangement of text and graphics on the page using a wide range of cutting-edge software tools and skills drawn from numerous disciplines, followed by the creation of digital files in the correct format for printing or electronic publishing in the form of a PDF, presentation or other media.
With the debut of the Apple Macintosh, Aldus PageMaker, and the first desktop laser printers thirty years ago, suddenly, everybody became a publisher. For a long time, there were some crude-looking documents out there. However, professional desktop publishing or layout service requires experience apart from the knowledge of the usage of this software.
ATTRACTIVE LAYOUTS WITH TYPOGRAPHIC QUALITY
At Lingua Technologies International, desktop publishing software experts and talented graphic artists transfer the client’s text and images into an attractive layout with typographic quality comparable to traditional printing, allowing big organizations to look good and small organizations to look big. No matter what media or marketing materials are required, from menus to church newsletters to brochures, books, and magazines, Lingua Technologies International has a long history of providing them affordably and professionally.
Our software desktop publishing service aims to produce localized materials that accurately reflect the original content. It aims to make sure the content complies with the standards of every language and target locale. For documents with complex design layouts and heavy graphics, we also ensure the translated content fits the original layout and graphic design.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING SERVICE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
What is Multilingual Desktop Publishing (DTP)?
Multilingual Desktop Publishing is the process of arranging texts and graphics on the page using a wide range of cutting-edge desktop publishing application tools like InDesign, Framemaker, Photoshop, Illustrator, QuarkXpress, Word, Powerpoint, etc. Acrobat etc., for different language versions of your global documentation.
Multilingual Desktop Publishing is an integral part of the translation process. To be it in a very simplistic way, Multilingual Desktop Publishing is a layout process done after completing the translation process, i.e. when the translated texts will be layout. Many might be more familiar with the term typesetting instead. This process completes the whole localization process for documentation meant for global distribution.
Multilingual Desktop Publishing is an important process in producing multilingual print or digital media for global distribution. It is a crucial part to ensure the international audiences accept and feel comfortable with the communication materials. The local look and feel of the communication documents must speak to them like it is written and layout originally in their language just for them.
Challenges of Multilingual Desktop Publishing
To the untrained, there is no difference between creating pages in English and laying them out in other languages. Isn’t it just a matter of replacing the English text with the translated ones?
If only it were so simple and straightforward.
Multilingual Desktop Publishing has its many challenges.
Knowledge of the different languages
Desktop publishing service in multiple languages requires an additional layer of expertise, as translating content from one language to another substantially impacts the layout. Knowledge of the language will ensure that all the texts are displayed correctly.
For instance:
French, Spanish, and Arabic increase word count and hence require more space or smaller font size.
German and Russian words can be extremely long, requiring the resizing of graphics and menu items.
Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi require a big layout change as these Middle Eastern languages are written from right to left.
Chinese, Korean, and Japanese desktop publishing projects require special publishing software to produce documents that are localized for the target audience.
Familiar with the characteristics of the different language fonts
Not all languages utilize the Latin-based script type of fonts. In most Asian languages, a non-Latin-based script is usually used. These fonts have standalone characters or a combination of these characters to form words.
The font sizes are also different for the different languages. For example, a font size 12 for an English script, say Times, is much bigger than a Thai font, say Angsana, of the same size.
With Multilingual Documents, the use of multilingual fonts is also very important, and it will address the unique characteristics of the different fonts with a good compromise.
Not all languages read from left to right
Some languages, especially those used in the Middle Eastern region, read from right to left. Some East Asian languages read neither from left to right nor right to left. They read from top to bottom and continues from right to left. Yes, these are only the tip of the iceberg.
Not all languages use the same type of punctuation marks
In most East Asian languages, square brackets are commonly used. Full stops and commas also look very different. And in Thai, punctuation marks are not even used.
Different language. Different rules.
In the English language, it is easy to tell when a word starts and when it stops. The rules of Widows and Orphans are easy to adhere to. But it is not so clear in other languages. For example, a Thai word is formed by combining different characters, and there are no spaces between the different words. If you don’t read Thai, you would not be able to break a line without creating many critical errors.
Desktop Publishing Skills
Aesthetics is very important in Desktop Publishing. You must have an eye for what is considered a good layout. It is also important to know how the layout is deemed to be proper for the different languages. In general, a good DTP artist needs to take care of the following:
- Fonts – Choosing the appropriate fonts and size
- Font style – Appropriate use of bold, italics, underline etc.
- Line Spacing – Appropriate space between lines
- Kerning – Appropriate space between words and characters
- Pagination – Ensure pages look even and aesthetically pleasing
Knowledge of the popular Multilingual DTP applications
There are many Desktop Publishing applications and tools available in the market. It is important for the team of desktop publishing experts who are ready and able to take your documentation and marketing materials through the design, creation, and digital prep stages to their final destination on the global market – in any language.
Being fully trained to work on various operating systems with cutting-edge multilingual publishing and graphics software is essential. These includes:
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Freehand
- Adobe PageMaker
- Adobe FrameMaker
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Acrobat
- QuarkXPress
- Coreldraw
- RoboHelp
- MSHelp Compiler
25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TRANSLATION AND MULTILINGUAL DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Your multilingual documentation is one of the most powerful marketing tools for you to win businesses in the global arena. Studies have shown that without a proper engagement strategy, 70% of your potential clients will disappear and will be gone forever.
Your ability to influence and win global audiences pivots on the communication strategy deployed to bridge that global communication gap.
Properly and aesthetically layout communication materials will attract global eyeballs, eventually leading to an absolute increase in your slice of pie in the worldwide market.
With over 25 years of proven excellence in the translation and localization industry, Lingua Technologies International is one of the pioneers in offering Multilingual Desktop Publishing Services to Singapore and the region.
The company takes pride in making translation and localization invaluable experiences for those going global.
Lingua Technologies International has dedicated teams made up of top desktop publishing experts and talented graphic artists in the translation industry. Together with our highly skilled translators, they can publish content in multiple languages.
With the ISO 17100 certification, you now have peace of mind that your translation projects are always processed and handled by professionals in accordance with guidelines and standards outlined in this ISO certification specification developed for Translation Businesses worldwide.
For more information and general inquiries, please do not hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email.
We can be reached via phone at +65 7576 0138 or via email at inquiry@translationsingapore.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Competitive Rates
Fast Turnaround
Quality Assured
With more than 20 years of proven excellence in translation services, Lingua Technologies International is one of the pioneers in offering Multilingual Translation Service Solution to Singapore and the region. The company takes pride in making translation an invaluable experience. With the ISO 17100 certification, you now have peace of mind that your translation projects are always processed and handled by professionals in accordance with the guidelines and standards outlined in this ISO certification specification developed for Translation Businesses worldwide. Let our professional team of linguists and project managers handle the tedious task of translation for you, leaving you with more time to do what matters most to you: your business.