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Let me start by saying I've only had one project for translation where we
were allowed to use any graphics. However, during that project (translated
into Japanese Kanji first, and German and Spanish later), I learned the
following:
- Work closely with the translation company to ensure they have what they
need.
- Insist the engineers and UI designer leave enough room for "character
expansion" in the labels for the languages used. Japanese characters can
need at least 40% more space on the screen, and sometimes up to 80% (I think
that's right.)
- Make a large (full screen size or bigger) high resolution set of screen
captures to send to the translation company. Label them to match the screens
in the chapters. Send them on a CD or provide an FTP site (best solution)
where they can download them. This way, if they want to relabel the screen
fields, they have enough room to work and a high-res copy to start with.
- Avoid lines and labels on the screen capture that "cross over" the main
graphic. Those are very hard to work with for relabeling. If annotations are
needed, put them outside the graphic and have lines nearly touch, but not
overlay, the screen capture.
Great question, and fun to think about!
Best
PT
On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Paul Hanson <paul -dot- hanson -at- civco -dot- com> wrote:
> If you do anything with translation of English documentation to another
> language (the software and my manual are going to be translated into French,
> Italian, German), this question is for you. Say you find a time machine and
> you can take the knowledge you have now and go back in time to the day on
> which you were told you would need to translate your manual (mine is 174
> pages) and all of its graphics (mine has 569 links - using InDesign) to
> those other languages. What would you tell yourself regarding capturing
> graphics in a non-English language?
>
> Paul Hanson
> Software Technical Communications Specialist
>
> CIVCO Medical Solutions
> Direct Phone: 319-248-6608
> WWW.CIVCO.COM
> One Company. Many Solutions.
> *** Confidentiality Note: This email transmission and any documents
> attached hereto contain information from CIVCO which is confidential. The
> information is intended only for the use of the intended recipient. If you
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