DTPDOC · Service

Unconventional Document Tasks

When a standard converter cannot handle the job and the layout has to be rebuilt manually.

Projects where there is no reliable one-converter route: an old PDF, scan, mixed source or complex layout has to be analyzed and rebuilt.

When this may be your case

  • the original layout is missing or unavailable;
  • the PDF is effectively made of images and separate graphic objects;
  • automatic import breaks tables, blocks or the element order;
  • the document combines several kinds of source files.

For these projects, I first determine the structure of the source document and then choose the reconstruction method. Sometimes it is a partial rebuild; sometimes the entire layout has to be assembled manually.

What to send for an estimate

A small fragment or several source pages, a brief description of the task, the languages and the desired result are enough. From these, it is usually possible to judge how suitable the document is for automation and where manual work will be required.

Next step

Describe the project — I’ll look at the source document and the task.

For an initial estimate, a brief description, languages, volume, source format and, where possible, a sample document are enough.

Get a quote

Useful details to include

  • document type and source format;
  • translation / localization languages;
  • volume and estimated deadline;
  • whether source files are available or only PDF / scans;
  • special layout and final-format requirements.