Author: Yuri Tsverkun
Founder at OCR Craft
Over 15 Years of Experience in the Translation Industry

When texts are translated, changes in line lengths, paragraph spacing, as well as positioning of images and other design elements often occur. These changes necessitate post-translation DTP to ensure the final document maintains its intended design and readability.

When translating IDML files via a CAT tool, the process involves multiple stages, including file preparation and final adjustments and quality checks. Below is a step-by-step explanation of the proper workflow for translating files in InDesign:

Step 1: Preparing the IDML File

1. Open the File in InDesign:

The original INDD (InDesign Document) file is exported to the IDML (InDesign Markup Language) format. This step is crucial as IDML is an XML-compatible format that can easily be imported into CAT tools.

2. Create a Project in the CAT Tool:

The exported IDML file is imported into the CAT tool, where it’s prepared for translation.

Step 2: Translating the Text

1. Translation in the CAT Tool:

A translator works within the CAT tool to ensure consistency, accuracy, and adherence to glossaries and style guides.

2. Export the Translated File:

Once translation is complete, the content is exported back into an IDML file. All text elements, including headings, paragraphs, and metadata, are preserved in the translated version.


Step 3: Post-Translation DTP

Once the translated IDML file is ready, post-translation DTP is performed to visually adapt the translated content to the original design.

1. Open the Translated IDML in InDesign:

The translated file is opened in InDesign. While the text will appear translated, layout adjustments will likely be required, especially if the text length differs between source and target languages.

2. Text Adjustments:
  • Text Length Changes: Text in the target language may be longer (e.g., translating from English to German) or shorter (e.g., translating from German to Chinese), which can disrupt the layout. Text boxes must be resized manually to fit all content without cutting off text.
  • Hyphenation and Line Breaks: Ensure proper word hyphenation, eliminate awkward line breaks, and adjust paragraphs to maintain readability and neat formatting.
3. Graphic Element Adjustments:
  • Reposition images, illustrations, and icons as needed to align with the new text layout.
  • Check captions and labels to ensure they match the updated content and align properly with visual elements.
4. Style Adjustments:

Verify that all text styles—such as fonts, font sizes, line spacing, and margins—match the original document to maintain a professional appearance.

5. Layout Consistency Check:

Confirm that all visual elements in the translated document are aligned with the original layout. This includes text box placement, adherence to margins, and the correct positioning of headers and footnotes.

Step 4: Final Quality Check

1. Linguistic Review:

After adjustments, conduct a linguistic review to check for translation errors, typos, or inaccurate phrasing. This can be done by a professional editor or the original translator.

2. Visual Review:

Perform a final visual inspection to ensure that the text and graphics display correctly, alignment is precise, and the overall appearance is clean and professional.

3. Export the Final Document:

The finalized file is exported in the required format—typically as a PDF for distribution or as IDML/INDD for further editing, depending on the client’s needs.

Translating IDML files through a CAT tool followed by post-translation DTP ensures high-quality results in both translation and design.