| How to prepare packaging materials for the translation process |
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Create descriptive and easy-to-read packaging. If products are to be sold in the USA, NAFTA or CAFTA countries, boxes or containers should have enough space to place at least 3 languages on each side. Should your products target Asian or European countries, consider providing enough space for at least 7 languages. The translation may require up to 20% more words to describe the same subject. Use Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) to create a text-only version of all text from your packaging material. Submit it for translation together with original layout of your packaging. Use the document version control system. This way any changes can be tracked between packaging materials and their translated copies. Translators always should adjust manuals to reflect localized date formats, currency, numbers and measurement systems. If your packaging materials display units of measurement in Royal (feet, gallons) or Metric (meters, liters) systems, provide conversion tables. Ask the translator and/or editor to comment on colors, wording, name of products and trade marks. Different countries and cultures have different meaning of colors and other words. In some cases translation of your trade mark, service or product may “not sound right” in the target language and region. Submit packaging materials for translation in an editable format such as Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format (RTF). |
