Multilingual manuals and catalogues

Translation is only half the battle. Developing multilingual catalogues requires every language version to look identical – regardless of the alphabet, the length of the text or the writing direction.

We create and update publications in multiple languages. One source project, a consistent look across all versions.

Wielojęzyczne instrukcje i katalogi

Scope of work

Creating multilingual publications

  • Designing page layouts taking text expansion into account
  • Multilingual desktop publishing – parallel work on multiple versions
  • Consistency of styles, graphics and formatting across all languages

Updating existing publications

  • Identifying changes in the source version
  • Updating selected language versions (there is no need to redo everything)
  • Versioning and archiving projects

Adapting to the specifics of the language

  • RTL languages (Arabic, Hebrew) – reversing the layout
  • Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) and African languages – appropriate typography
  • Local conventions and standards

See what it looks like in practice

Sample templates for manuals and catalogues

Below we present sample manual and catalogue designs in four languages. Each one shows how we maintain the layout, typography and proportions regardless of the language.

You can open each template as a PDF to see how we maintain consistency between language versions.

A folded instruction leaflet, e.g. a concertina fold
– 6 languages (EN/DE/ES/FR/IT/PL)

Typical use: short operating instructions.

An instruction manual where the languages appear one after another with highlighting in the margin
– 3 languages (EN/DE/PL)

Typical use: longer operating instructions.

An instruction manual with graphics on the inside covers, and the content in the middle
– 3 languages (EN/DE/PL)

Typical use: operating instructions where the graphics are universal for every language.

A product catalogue with the description in 4 languages in adjacent columns
– 4 languages (EN/DE/ES/PL)

Typical use: product presentations with short descriptions.

A product catalogue divided into sections, each in a different language highlighted in the margin
– 4 languages (EN/DE/ES/PL)

Typical use: product presentations with longer descriptions.

Types of publications

Technical manuals: Product documentation, operating instructions, safety data sheets, assembly instructions – in any number of languages, while maintaining the layout and numbering.

Product catalogues: Catalogues for distributors, price lists, sales materials – updated seasonally without creating them from scratch.

Corporate documentation: Annual reports, investor presentations, expert studies, expert reports (white papers), project descriptions, implementation stories, case studies, descriptions of achievements to date (success stories) – a professional look in every language.

Tools

  • Adobe InDesign – publication typesetting
  • Adobe FrameMaker – technical documentation (long documents, versioning)
  • Adobe Illustrator – vector graphics
  • Fogra (FOGRA39 standard, FOGRA 51, FOGRA52 and others)
  • Microsoft Office
Narzędzia DTP

Integration with translation memories (CAT tools) – terminology consistency across versions.

What do you gain?

A uniform look for all language versions

Lower cost of updates and changes (you update only what has changed)

A complete history of revisions and versions

A proven process that shortens rollout time in new markets

Source files for future updates

Why us?

Experience in multilingual projects

  • Projects delivered for industries: automotive, industrial machinery, electronics, medicine, IT and others
  • Projects of 500+ pages in 30+ languages
  • Working with clients such as: OEM manufacturers (Original Equipment Manufacturers, i.e. companies that manufacture components or finished products which are then sold and distributed under another company’s brand), distributors, multinational corporations

End-to-end service:

  • Translation and desktop publishing within a single order
  • A dedicated project manager
  • Layout verification in each language before delivery, consultation with a native speaker of the target language
Multilingual manuals and catalogues

Do you want your manuals to look professional in every language?

Let’s talk about your project – we will prepare a sample typeset of a fragment of one language version.

Computer typesetting

Do you need comprehensive
DTP services?

We work in most formats, from preparing documents from scratch to the final version.

FAQ

No limit. We have delivered projects in 30+ languages in parallel.

Yes. We update only the languages that require changes – you do not have to pay for the whole thing.

We design flexible text layouts (layouts). We adjust font size, line spacing and margins. If necessary, we redesign the page layout.

Yes. We have experience with RTL typesetting – we reverse the layout, adjust alignment and the order of elements.

Print-ready PDF, interactive PDF, source files (INDD, AI, FM), HTML, EPUB, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX – according to your needs.

We appoint a dedicated project manager. We agree a schedule and milestones. We report progress on an ongoing basis.

What can we do for you?

Write now for a tailor-made offer.


This site uses cookies

The site uses cookies to improve its accessibility.

We collect information on site traffic and email addresses entered in our forms. You can decide whether to allow cookies by setting your browser accordingly. See our privacy policy for more information.

We value your privacy

The owner of this website collects and processes data about users in order to provide services through Studio Gambit Sp. z o.o. The data is processed in accordance with law and in compliance with security rules. Processed data is not tranferred to other companies.