About
Onur Ilter is an independent multilingual DTP specialist based in Berlin, working with translation agencies, publishers and international teams on complex documents for print, digital publishing and accessible PDF workflows.
Independent DTP work built around translation workflows
Most DTP work in the multilingual space sits in a gap: it requires both deep layout knowledge and an understanding of how translation processes work. Translators are not layout specialists. Designers are not familiar with CAT tools or IDML structure. Clients end up needing someone who bridges both sides.
That is where DTP Services Berlin operates. The focus is on production-ready output — documents that come out of translation in the right format, with correct typography, no overset text, proper RTL handling, and PDF/UA-compliant accessibility tagging where required.
Translation agencies managing multilingual document projects, publishers working across language markets, and international organisations that need accessible PDF output.
Core services and specialisations
Layout preparation and post-translation typesetting across European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages — including complex script handling and character encoding.
Full PDF/UA and WCAG tagging for documents requiring accessibility compliance — including reading order, alt text, heading structure and form field labelling.
Arabic and Hebrew typesetting in InDesign using World-Ready Composer — mirrored layouts, correct paragraph direction, mixed LTR/RTL handling.
File preparation for CAT tool processing, IDML export and re-import, post-translation cleanup and final production hand-off for agency project pipelines.
Tools used in production
How a typical project runs
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File assessment
Every project starts with a review of the source files — InDesign package, PDF, or both. This surfaces font issues, missing links, IDML compatibility problems, and any accessibility requirements before work begins.
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Preparation for translation
Files are prepared in a format suitable for the translator's CAT tool: clean IDML export, paragraph style cleanup, hidden layer removal, and any text expansion space allocation for target languages known to run longer.
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Post-translation typesetting
Translated content is re-imported and the layout is corrected: overset text resolved, hyphenation adjusted for the target language, fonts confirmed or replaced, and right-to-left settings applied where required.
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Final output and delivery
Output is either a print-ready PDF, an accessible tagged PDF (PDF/UA), or a packaged InDesign file — depending on the project requirement. Accessibility documents include a compliance notes file for the client.
Based in Berlin, Germany. Working remotely with clients across Europe and internationally. All communication and file exchange is handled digitally — no location restrictions on project scope.
Writing on multilingual production
Alongside client work, this site publishes practical articles on the topics that come up most often in multilingual DTP projects — translation file handling, text expansion, InDesign setup for complex scripts, PDF accessibility, and related production workflows.
The articles are written for project managers and translation agencies, not for beginners. The goal is to give the people who commission this kind of work a clear picture of what is involved and what to watch for.
Get in touch to discuss file formats, timelines and what preparation is needed on your end.
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