Integrated Desktop Publishing (DTP) and Translation
The ‘classical’ approach to translation often involves a huge amount of email traffic — the curse of the modern office! A typical workflow might begin with the original author sending the text to the co-ordinator. Who then sends it to the Desktop Publishing (DTP) team, who do the layout and send it back. At this point the co-ordinator sends it off to the translator, who extracts the original text, translates it and pastes it back, before reviewing it and returning it. The co-ordinator then sends it to the in-house reviewer, who sends it back. Next, it is sent to the translator again and any last minute changes or adjustments to the translation are integrated. Finally, the co-ordinator will probably sent it back to the DTP team to resolve all the layout issues that arose during this torturous process.
This process takes time, energy and money — considerably more than it needs to. By contrast, QuickSilver Translate’s integrated approach involves the following steps: one, you send us material to be translated, specifying your translation and DTP needs; two, we send it back, translated, reviewed and with all the DTP work done. That’s it.
QuickSilver Translate’s integrated approach
Is an end-to-end process which consolidates all elements of a translation project into one continuous workflow. Combining DTP software and processes, with leading-edge translation software (CAT tools) — saving you time, money and hassle.
How do we do it?
By using a combination of software tools (some of them proprietary), QuickSilver has created an integrated, highly optimised method for exporting text and then importing the subsequent translation to and from all major formats. This includes InDesign, QuarkXPress, FrameMaker, etc., as well as all web-based formats (HTML, XML, ASP, etc.).
Adopting this methodology helps eliminate the risk of human error (cut and paste mistakes, lack of knowledge of the target language, etc.) and significantly speeds up the translation cycle.
However, QuickSilver goes a step further by assuming control of the actual layout at the DTP application level. By controlling the layout and harnessing the full potential of the applications involved, we make more effective use of the extraction processes available. As well as integrating the whole process into a workflow that shortens the translation cycle and gives our customers greater flexibility and efficiency when producing multilingual documentation.
Key benefits of Desktop Publishing (DTP) integration
- As we translate into more and more languages the initial design costs pay-off. As the layout is only created once, for all languages.
- Quality control and review costs are negligible since DTP and translation are in the hands of the same team.
- Our translation team can make any last-minute changes directly into the layout, without re-extraction and re-inputting of text. Thus, reducing post-processing costs.
- New versions of the same document in subsequent years entail no extra layout costs.
Quicksilver’s integrated approach reduces delivery times, increases productivity and eliminates errors. A set of benefits which translate into enhanced efficiency and productivity, as well as significant cost reduction.