Desktop
publishing

Translation Agency of Alberta can assist you in all aspects of multilingual desktop publishing.

What multilingual desktop publishing actually involves

In short: we put the translated text back into your own layout, so the printed version reads in the new language exactly the way the original reads in English. Translation and layout are quoted separately — translation at $0.15—0.20 per word, DTP at $30—90 per page — so you pay only for the layout work your file really needs.

• What we need from you: the original source files (Adobe InDesign .indd, FrameMaker, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Freehand, Corel Draw, PageMaker or QuarkXpress), together with the linked images and the fonts used in the document. A PDF is normally an export, not a source file, so ask the specialist who created the brochure or flyer for the working files.
• What you receive: the translation in MS Word for your review, then the laid-out file in the original format plus a PDF proof, ready to send to a printer.
• Why the text does not simply drop in: a translated paragraph is rarely the same length as the original, and scripts such as Arabic run right to left while Chinese and Punjabi need their own fonts and line breaking. Columns, headings, captions, tables and callouts are rebalanced so the page still looks designed rather than patched.
• Volume work: significant discounts are available for projects of 10,000+ words of translation and for layout projects of 20+ pages.

Desktop publishing for organizations in Calgary and Edmonton

Multilingual layout requests in Alberta usually take a few familiar shapes. The examples below are described by document type only, without naming any organization:

• Engineering and safety documentation from the oil and gas sector — operating manuals, procedures and site instructions where drawings, callouts and tables have to stay aligned with the translated text
• Learning materials from colleges and training providers — workbooks, handouts and course packs that keep their page numbering and exercise layout
• Newcomer and settlement information brochures prepared for multilingual audiences across the province
• Product literature, catalogues and trade-show handouts for Calgary and Edmonton exporters
• Community newsletters, annual reports and public-information leaflets issued in several languages

The whole job runs by email from anywhere in Alberta, so a company in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge or Fort McMurray follows the same steps. Prices are quoted in Canadian dollars before work starts, with 5% GST shown before payment. If the same file also needs a certified translation for official use, we can prepare that alongside the print version; see the pricing page for certified document rates.

Common questions about DTP

Can you work from a PDF if the source file is lost?
Yes, but the page has to be rebuilt before the translation can be poured in, which takes longer than working from the original file. Whenever possible, ask the designer who produced the document for the InDesign or FrameMaker source.

How long does a layout project take?
The timeline depends on the number of pages, the language pair and how many rounds of review you want. We confirm the schedule together with the quote, before work starts.

Do you handle right-to-left and Asian scripts?
Yes. Arabic and other right-to-left languages, as well as Chinese, Hindi and Punjabi, are laid out with the correct text direction, fonts and line breaking.

Who checks the file before printing?
You do. Step 3 of the process is your review of the translation, and step 5 is your review of the laid-out file and PDF proof, so nothing goes to print without your approval.