Desktop publishing services for translations
Desktop Publishing
SMG Languages’ desktop publishing (DTP) service involves reproducing the layout of commercial, technical and advertising translations in the digital format requested by the client.
‘Layout’ refers to the arrangement of text and illustrations provided by the client or produced by SMG Languages through our dedicated Writing and Illustration services.
In addition to creating layouts from scratch, we can also correct and adapt existing layouts.
Our DTP service is particularly useful for producing foreign-language or multilingual documents, as we deliver a finished product that is ready for publication or printing. Our experienced DTP Department can confidently handle all types of layout issues, regardless of how uncommon the language is or which digital format the client chooses.
Are layouts taking up too much time? Is inserting foreign-language text proving too difficult?
We have the solution!
Our specialist editors will take care of inserting translations directly into your graphic files, so your content is ready to reach your target audience.
Our main clients
Translations in HTML, AutoCAD, InDesign and other formats
We provide foreign-language translations in the electronic formats required by our clients, for both Windows and macOS environments.
SMG translators work directly in leading editing and publishing software. For example, if you have created a manual or catalogue in English using InDesign and want it translated into French, simply provide us with the English InDesign file and we will deliver the French translation in the same InDesign format.
This innovative service saves our clients both time and money by avoiding the time-consuming process of importing text.
Special translation services
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Access
- AutoCAD technical drawings, particularly in Russian, English and German.
- Manuals and catalogues using InDesign, FrameMaker, PageMaker, Publisher, QuarkXPress and Illustrator.
- Websites and online content using CorelDRAW, FreeHand and Flash.
- Files in the client’s required markup or programming language, such as HTML, SGML, XML or PHP.
- Computer-assisted translation using leading CAT tools: SDL Trados, Transit, Wordfast, Across and Déjà Vu. We store translated texts in our electronic translation memory system so that they can be retrieved, edited or updated in future projects.
Desktop publishing in practice
Examples of DTP processes we deal with daily:
- Resizing translated text to fit within the page or layer in which it is to be placed. Translated text can vary considerably in length compared with the original, depending on the language;
- Inserting foreign-language text that requires the use of special fonts;
- Managing character encoding in accordance with international standards to ensure that text is displayed correctly, particularly for many Asian languages;
- Text orientation: managing different reading directions, such as right-to-left Arabic text or vertically set Japanese text, and adapting the layout accordingly;
- SMG has advanced systems for editing PDFs and images.
- Our DTP Department works alongside linguists to ensure that page layouts remain faithful to the original, manage formatting differences between languages and support the production of graphic publications and documents.
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