Layout is a complicated process, and clients who turn to translation/linguistic companies do not always understand its features. When asking for translation of their materials, they are faced with the need to learn more about the translated document layout.
It’s one of the most important stages of document processing in different language versions. So what is a layout? There are many definitions of the term, but here we mean the following: layout is the process of forming a page by the competent arrangement of text and graphic information on it. Page/document is not only understood as a “classic” text document with embedded images or tables, but also as drawings, maps, diagrams, images with numerous inscriptions, and so on.
When requesting to prepare a document in different language versions, it is important to understand that layout is an integral part of working on it. The layout specialist should design the translated page in such a way that it corresponds as closely as possible to the original design and thus correctly shows the meaning and ideas behind it.
Let’s note some interesting nuances of layout at a translation agency:
- Not all languages contain an exact equivalent of a particular font; in this case, experts select the font as close to the original as possible.
- The length of the translated text almost always differs from the length of the original text (sometimes significantly), which affects the layout of the content on the page.
- When designing the document in a foreign language, the specialist always takes into account its cultural aspect.
- The absence of editable source files is not an obstacle for translation and layout of the document, but it increases the cost and time spent, since the additional service of text recognition and extraction from the uneditable format is required.
Typically, layout specialists in translation/linguistic companies are proficient in various foreign languages. They use professional software in their work: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, and so on. The range of services provided by such specialists is quite wide: they are engaged in difficult and important work, which requires the utmost care.
Typically, layout departments in large translation/linguistic companies also perform design and pre-press functions. In this way, the company’s clients receive turnkey services, which is very convenient. This is exactly how ILS organizes its work. ILS experts will help you solve your problems without fail. Our specialists have extensive professional knowledge and rich experience.
