Multilingual DTP

Multilingual DTP:
translate your media
into all languages

File formats and their layout are often overlooked in the translation process However, adjusting the layout is essential to ensure a flawless result. Translation often involves different lengths of text and other special considerations to be taken into account, which may impact how your tables, diagrams, drawings and blocks of text are displayed. And what if your target language uses a different alphabet and/or reading direction? All these questions need to be discussed with your partner from the outset to avoid delays and additional lead times.

Our page layout services

DTP (Desktop Publishing): tailor-made page layout adapted to each language

DTP (Desktop Publishing) is a crucial step in ensuring that your translated documents are perfectly presented, regardless of the format or the target language. At Version internationale, we adapt the page layout of your documents taking into account linguistic constraints and cultural specificities. Some languages, like Japanese or Arabic, require specific adjustments in terms of text direction, character size, or spacing. Our DTP experts work with professional software such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and FrameMaker to recreate page layouts that are identical or adapted to your original content. We make sure that all graphics, tables, images and diagrams are correctly aligned, positioned and adapted to the target language.

We also take care to ensure your documents are legible and aesthetically pleasing. Translation can sometimes change the length of a text (for example, a sentence in German may be longer than in English), which can have an impact on the layout. Our specialists adjust these difference without compromising the visual integrity of your media. Whether you need to translate brochures, flyers, technical reports or presentations, we guarantee a professional finish that is ready for printing or digital distribution.

File formats

We work directly with your original files to preserve their integrity. Thanks to our professional tools, we translate your content while maintaining the structure and initial format. This avoids unnecessary steps and ensures fast and accurate results.

Multilingual page layout

Each language has specific challenges when it comes to page layout. Some languages, such as German or Russian, often require text length adjustments, while others, such as Arabic or Chinese, require graphical adjustments. We adapt your documents to ensure they remain legible and true to the original layout and design. We can also offer advice on adapting the visual aspect of your documents if certain images or colours are not appropriate for the target culture.

Complex files

Images, diagrams and tables containing text must also be translated and reintegrated into your finalised files. We use specialist software to manage these elements and guarantee consistent page layout. Even if the original files are lost, we can find solutions using OCR technology (Optical Character Recognition).

LSO (Language Sign-Off): the final quality control for flawless page layout

LSO, or Language Sign-Off, is a crucial step to ensure that the final page layout respects both the linguistic and visual constraints. After the translation and DTP steps, our native-speaker linguists carry out an in-depth check of your documents in their final format. This process ensures that the translated text fits perfectly into the layout, with no clumsy breaks, misprints or visual inconsistencies.

LSO checks for details such as text alignment, footnotes and page numbers, as well as making sure that language-specific characters (accents, Cyrillic characters, ideograms, etc.) are properly inserted. For example, a poorly placed word break or missing character could change the meaning of the text or give the impression of unprofessionalism. Our linguists also check localised visual elements, such as graphics, currencies, date formats and units of measurement, to ensure they are adapted to the local market.

This final step is particularly important for documents intended for printing or official distribution, such as catalogues, manuals and advertising posters. LSO ensures that your multilingual media are not only accurate from a linguistic point of view, but also that they are visually flawless and ready to be published.

Multilingual catalogues: a technical and creative challenge

Multilingual catalogues represent a particular challenge when it comes to page layout, as they often combine a large volume of text, images, tables and cross-references. Version internationale is a specialist in managing these complex projects, and guarantees that your design requirements are met, while ensuring seamless consistency between the different languages. We adapt the layout of your catalogues to integrate the translations while ensuring they remain legible and visually appealing.

We pay close attention to the balance between text and graphics. Certain languages, such as Chinese or Arabic require specific fonts and spacing adjustments, while others, such as German, may require significantly longer blocks of text. Our DTP teams are on hand to find creative solutions to standardise these variations without distorting the original design. We also work on tables, lists of products and descriptions to ensure that each element fits in perfectly, with particular attention paid to details such as prices, units of measurements and technical descriptions.

We also use advanced tools such as databases and automated tools to efficiently manage projects containing several hundred pages or languages. Thanks to our localisation and design expertise, your multilingual catalogues are not only visually pleasing and consistent, but also adapted to the expectations of your international clients. Whether you require product catalogues, sales brochures or technical guides, we offer turnkey solutions for a professional and perfectly reader-friendly result.

The file formats we accept

INDD (Adobe InDesign): native Adobe InDesign format, routinely used for brochures, catalogues, magazines, etc.
> IDML (InDesign Markup Language): a compatible version of InDesign for interchange between different versions.
> AI (Adobe Illustrator): format for vector art, logos and complex graphics
> EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): vector graphic format often used for printing.
> PDF (Portable Document Format): used for finalised files or files to be edited, may contain text, images and complex page layouts.
> PSD (Adobe Photoshop): native Photoshop files for high resolution images or complex visuals.
> TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): high resolution image format, ideal for printing.
> JPEG/JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): compressed format for images, often used for web or printed visuals.
> PNG (Portable Network Graphics): lossless image format, ideal for graphics with transparency.
> SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): vector format suitable for digital illustrations and the web.
> BMP (Bitmap): simple image format, less commonly used in professional desktop publishing.

Please note that a PDF is not a source file and that it is always preferable to work in the file format used to create the documents. It is, of course, possible to work on a PDF, but this may require more time and effort, depending on whether it can be edited or not.