Going Global with Multimedia: 

Best Practices for Localizing Multimedia

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#LIOX @Lionbridge @KathleenBostick

Presented By Jeffrey Constantin
Moderated by Christiane Bernier
March 2010
 Goals and Objectives of Today’s Webinar

Provide an introductory overview of Multimedia
Gain a better understanding of the Multimedia components
Establish key steps for localization to make it simple
Share some best practices to set up localization of multimedia
products
d t

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 Webinar Agenda

D fi i i of Multimedia
Definition f M l i di

Localization Process

Case Study

Multimedia Considerations

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 Multimedia is…

programs, software, and hardware
media and content that uses  capable of using a wide variety of 
a combination of different
a combination of different  media such as film, video, and music
f
content forms as well as text and numbers

wikipedia org
wikipedia.org encarta msn com
encarta.msn.com

human‐computer interaction  Multi = Many
involving text, graphics, voice and  Media = Medium 
video; often also includes concepts  It means you have many medium
from {hypertext} to express your self…

learnthat.com wiki.answers.com

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 What is Multimedia?

a medium that links multiple forms of media to transmit a 
common message to a user through different channels.

Audio

I t
Interactivity
ti it  Vid
Video

 
Animation Text

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 Types of Multimedia

Fundamentally, there are two classic types of Multimedia:
Linear “presentation”
Storytelling form of presentation
User follows a pre‐defined presentation with little interactivity
Movie on VHS
Movie on VHS 

Non‐linear “presentation”
Referred to as Hypermedia
Allows users to navigate freely through the different media 
components with the use of interactivity.
p y
Movie on DVD

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 Multimedia Around You

Educational Artistic Advertisement Day‐to‐Day Entertainment

Hypermedia Linear or 

or Web animations
Web animations  Self checkout
Self‐checkout  Usingg yyour body 
y
presentation non‐linear invite users to  counters  and the Wii Fit 
called eLearning
depending on  customize and  combine textual board to interact
with emphasis on  create their with graphical
audio and visual the messaging.  and audio 
Typically invites  own videos. instructions with elements on‐
elements. screen
userss through
use oug user interactivity. 
use e ac y
interactivity.

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 Multimedia Components 

• Narration
Audio • Music & Sound Effects

• Live‐Action with On‐screen Actors
Video • Screen Capture

• Documentation (Print and Web)
Text • Images and Graphics

• Flash
Animation • 3D

• User Interface(Audio Controls, Navigation Menu)
Interactivity • Quiz

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 Webinar Agenda

Localization Process

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 So What is Localization?

adapting a product and its content for a specific 
adapting a product and its content for a specific
international market or locale and testing the results to 
ensure that the localized product works correctly as 
intended.
d d

Project  Component  QA and 

Translation 
Setup Localization Testing

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 Planning for Localization

Gathering the project requirements
Analyzing the source files
Establishing the workflow
Establishing the workflow
Setting up the production team
Establishing project budget

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 Poll Slide

What do you find most challenging about the localization of 

multimedia projects?
Establishing the budget
Planning project schedules
Gathering project requirements
Managing assets
Qualityy management
Q g

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Audio

Is the audio combined
Is the audio combined with another component after
component after localization?
What is the duration of the audio narration?
How many speakers are used in the original product?
Does the audio need to match a pre‐determined length of time?
Non time‐sensitive voice‐over
Ti
Time‐sensitive voice‐over
iti i
Dubbing

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Audio

Do I have the script?

Do I have the script?
Do I know the markets I want to reach?
Do I want audio files as a final deliverable?
If
If so, do I know the audio specifications
d Ik th di ifi ti f th
for the
final deliverables?
If not, can I share the product in which the audio
will be integrated?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Video

Are there specific requirements for the file output of the localized

Are there for the file output of the localized video files?
file size (Width x Height) 
format (AVI, WMV, MOV, FLV)
Frames Per Second & Bit Rate
Frames Per Second & Bit Rate
Video codec
Does the video require voice‐over or subtitling?
D
Does the on‐screen
h text need
d to be
b localized?
l li d?
Is the video project (Final Cut, Adobe Premiere) available?
What file format is available for video editing?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Video

Do I want the video to be subtitled or with voice‐over?

What type of files do I have access
What type of files do I have access to for localization: 
to for localization:
output files (AVI) or video projects?
Do I need a specific
Do I need a specific video output?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Text

Do all elements require localization (screenshots, PDFs, Images)?

For screenshots, is the software localized and do we have access to it?
Are there any editable source files available
Are there source files available for documentation type files?
for documentation type files?
Documentation (InDesign, Word, PPT)
Images and graphics (Photoshop, Illustrator)
Are there
h any restrictions for layout
f l adjustments
d after
f translation?
l ?
Are there specific outputs for a specific region?
File encoding
Document paper size for printed documents

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Text

Do I have the editable source files for the content which should be 
localized?
Do I want all the content localized
Do I want all the content localized including graphics and screenshots?
and screenshots?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Animations

What software and which version was

What software and which version was used to create
to create the animations? 
the animations?
Adobe Flash
3D softwares
Powerpoint
Breeze
Captivate
Do the animations contain
D h i i i any text that
h requirei localization?
l li i ?
Can we re‐publish the animations after localization?
Are there any elements that do not require
Are there do not require localization?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Animations

Do I have all the files required to edit and re‐publish the 

animation?
What do I want localized within the animation?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Interactivity

What software was used to create the multimedia

product?
Is there a specific
p version of the software that is
required?
Are the source files (project files) available?
Are there
Are there requirements for file management for 
for file management for
hosting the product on a server?
Do we have a naming convention to respect within
the localized versions?
the localized
Do we need one project per language?

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 Planning for Localization ‐ Interactivity

Do I know what software and version was used to produce the product?

Do I need the files back in a specific folder structure for going live with the 
localized product?
p

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 Case Study – DS SolidWorks

Client: DS SolidWorks
Project: Launch 2010 website
Scope: interactive web‐portal combining:
product demos and web‐commercials
d
datasheets, product
h d b h
brochures and update sections
d d
company information
Project requirements:
Project requirements: 
localize the web‐portal into 12 languages
Challenges:
g
Delays in content creation, but fixed release to 
market date for both English and localized languages
Customization requirements for specific markets
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 Case Study – DS SolidWorks

Audio

• Multiple
Multiple English voices
English voices
• On‐screen speakers and 
voice‐over narration
• Audio synchronized against
video
ideo component

http://www.solidworkslaunch.com/

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 Case Study – DS SolidWorks

Video

• Product demos
Product demos with product
screen captures
• Live‐action videos with one 
presenter
• Web‐commercials with 
W b i l ith
multiple actors

http://www.solidworkslaunch.com/

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 Case Study – DS SolidWorks

Text

• XML—driven on‐screen text

• Product documentation in 
PDF format
pages
• HTML pages

http://www.solidworkslaunch.com/

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 Case Study – DS SolidWorks

Animation

• Flash‐based video module  

with XML‐driven content

http://www.solidworkslaunch.com/

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 Case Study – DS SolidWorks

Interactivity
• Web‐navigation menu within
header portion of the portal
header portion of the portal
• Video selection through
Flash module
• Language selection module  
within
ithin footer of the portal
of the portal

http://www.solidworkslaunch.com/

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 How Does this Get Localized?

Project  Component  QA and 

Translation Compilation
Setup Localization Testing

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 The Localization Process

Audio Setup
Audioscript preparation
Pronunciation guideline creation
Project
Setup
Video Pre Production
Video Pre‐Production
Creation of video projects
Subtitling of English video
File Preparation

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 The Localization Process

Audio Video Text Animation Interactivity

Pronunciation User  Navigation 

Script
p guidelines
Subtitles InDesign
g HTML XML Flash content
iinterface
t f menu

CONTENT FOR LOCALIZATION

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 The Localization Process
Translation & editing with reference to:
 Reference material
 Translation memory, glossary and style guide Translation
 Time limitation tool for audio content
Client Review Cycle (CRC)
 Opportunity to review and customize the translation before 
Opportunity to review and customize the translation before
recording and production
Translation Update

Phase II 
Phase I  Phase III 
Client
Client 
Translation 
l i Translation 
l i
Review 
& Editing Update
Cycle

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 The Localization Process

Translations are integrated into the components
 Audio recordings
 Desktop publishing for documentation  Component 
 Video subtitling Localization
 Audio/Video synchronization
 Video editing
 File engineering
 Flash integration and editing

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 The Localization Process

Animations are re‐created with localized components 

Localized components and animations are
assembled to build the final product
assembled to build the final product
Product is set up on a staging server
Compilation
for web‐viewing

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 The Localization Process

Quality Assurance (QA)
 Linguistic QA
QA and Testing
 Technical QA
Technical QA
Product is typically hosted on testing server
Bug reports are compiled
Client sign‐off occurs once the product has gone through QA 
and Testing

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 Webinar Agenda

Multimedia Considerations

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 Common Myths About Localizing Multimedia

It depends on the project
It depends on the project requirements and the source material
and the source material
 What are the markets you need to reach?
 What does the end‐user need translated?
 Do you have all your editable source files?

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 Common Myths about Localizing Multimedia

It’s NOT complicated in itself – it just requires breaking down the project into

individual components
 Is there collaboration between the content creation group and the 
localization group?
 Have you identified the translatable and “non‐translatable” components?

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 Common Myths About Localizing Multimedia

True there are many

True, there are many steps, but the process
steps but the process can be customized
What  are the priorities for this project?
Can you share detailed information and instructions about 
the product?
Can localization begin while content creation is taking place?

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 Common Myths About Localizing Multimedia

Start planning this during project setup to avoid headaches

Start planning this during setup to avoid headaches
Can this be sent through email?
Have you considered sending the files via an external hard‐drive? 
Can files be hosted rather than transferred?  

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 Mark Your Calendars!

Reducing Total Cost of Global Content Development

Thursday, April 22, 2010
12:00 p.m. EDT,  6:00 p.m. CEST

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