QuarkXPress® and QuarkXPress® Passport

We create all types of QuarkXPress layout for Macintosh or Windows.

In order to guarantee full compatibility, we use the Passport 4.x, 5.x, 6.x and 7.x QuarkXPress versions.

QuarkXPress was launched in 1987, and its impact on the market was immediate. At that time, electronic publishing was taking its first tentative steps, and many publications were still produced mechanically.

QuarkXPress introduced the concepts of typography, layout and high precision colour management through desktop computers. Today, there are over three million QuarkXPress users worldwide. Soget started using QuarkXPress from version 2 and contributed – as beta tester – to its development, implementing the best translation solutions and updating texts in .qxd format. Our solutions include both the development of new documents in QuarkXpress and the translation and pagination of the multi-language versions of existing QuarkXpress documents.

Soget uses all the latest DTP programs, guaranteeing full compatibility with the two previous releases.

Below is our analysis on the latest version of Quark Xpress, focussing on aspects relating to managing foreign language documentation, in which we highlight the program's main characteristics.

EXECUTION OF NEW DOCUMENTS IN QUARKXPRESS
In the first case our services focus on analysing, structuring and creating brand new documentation – including graphics - and, upon request, involve typographical or digital printing. Our products include image-related documents, brochures and leaflets; manuals and instruction booklets; catalogues, presentations, educational and training literature, e-books and internet and monitor display products.

TRANSLATING AND UPDATING EXISTING QUARKXPRESS DOCUMENTS
In the second case, we translate new documents and update existing QuarkXPress ones. Our use of the most advanced CAT technologies (Computer Aided Translation) allows us to translate manuals, catalogues and other documents directly in QuarkXpress, without needing to create new layouts for each language version produced. Our solutions allow us to create versions in all the main languages, including those with left-to-right scripts (Arabic, Hebrew and Farsi) and Asian alphabets (Chinese, Korean and Japanese). These versions may be opened and printed using standard versions (from 4 to the latest release) as well as the localised versions of QuarkXPress (Chinese, Japanese, etc.). Finally, as regards version 7 we guarantee full support for multilingual solutions based on the Unicode standard and for the use of Opentype fonts.

We translate and paginate in all the main languages. In the event of layouts containing texts created using other applications, we also translate and update using all the main graphic formats, including CorelDraw, Fireworks, FreeHand, Illustrator and Photoshop.

Finally, when updating documentation we make use of a tool that allows us to identify any modifications mode, therefore limiting our translation activity to these sections. In this case too, the original properties of the document are preserved, thus reducing DTP costs and production times.

PDF OPTIMISATION AND VALIDATION

Our service may be extended to include the optimisation and validation of PDFs, in compliance with the printing specifications received from our customer, editor or typographer. This process requires the correct setting and verification of:

Colour management
Formats (live area, trim, bleed)
Colour space of each advert (for CMYK, RGB, LAB or ICC based devices)
Ink weight, trapping sequences and black or white overprints
Use of font: compatibility, embedded fonts, etc.
Image resolutions and scale adaptations.

TEXT AND CHARACTER CONVERSION

Furthermore, we offer numerous solutions for the conversion of texts between different operating systems. In particular, we paginate multilingual texts produced in Windows formats within QuarkXPress documents on Macintosh 8.0 and following operating systems.

This solution may be applied to all Eastern, Baltic and Cyrillic languages. We also convert font libraries so that these may be used in all QuarkXpress versions.

We provide translation and pagination services in QuarkXPress for all the languages supported by the program.

Below is our analysis on the latest version of QuarkXpress, focussing on aspects relating to managing foreign language documentation, in which we highlight the program's main characteristics.

Analysis of QuarkXPress Passport

In order to maintain high quality standards and bridge the technological gaps that once placed Adobe InDesign (the program's only direct competitor) in an advantageous position, version 7 of QuarkXpress contains a number of unquestionable improvements, enabling an increase in productivity.

While the previous program version offered limited support to OpenType fonts, QuarkXPress 7 supports these - and PostScript and TrueType fonts - fully. QuarkXPress 7 now includes all the typographical functions offered by OpenType technology as well as access to the Unicode multilingual code.

What's new in version 7

Greater control over transparency
QuarkXPress allows transparent elements to be created by setting the opacity levels of the relating colours.
Enhanced collaboration
Version 7 enables teamwork without having to set complex network functions or invest in additional software. Once the composition zone has been defined, this may be made available to other team members.
JDF Workflow
Encompasses the advantages of the JDF standard in creative workflows.
Automatisms via sharing
The new QuarkXpress Shared Content palette enables the use and reuse texts, images and other elements – Bézier lines and specific page areas – within a document, between different documents within a single project, and between different users.
Direct image editing
The Quarkvista extension offered with the application allows images to be changed directly on the page. Visual control in Photoshop QuarkXpress supports native Photoshop PSD files, including advanced visual access to the content of said images and information concerning the various levels.
Easy and logical colour management
Colour management is improved, thus flexibly and powerfully producing accurate results in line with the various output profiles.
Incorporated web design
The Web Layout mode enables a series of specific Web instruments and commands.
Print Layout, for the creation of interactive forms, image maps and rollovers, CSS functions.
Preview option from the Web browser.
Advanced XML and variable data
XML support conceived for professional use.
Typographical precision
Support of OpenType fonts and the relating style options.

Users:

Photocomposers, specialised DTP graphics, creative artists and pre-printing experts

Production:

High level layout designs with numerous graphic elements, newspapers, brochures, packaging, catalogues, adverts and books

What it offers:

It is the de facto standard for high quality publishing using Mac.
It manages documents of thousands of pages.
Thorough text and graphic controls and extended functions similar to those of Adobe InDesign.
Enables the creation of tables and makes use of numerous third party programs (Xtension) for specific applications and functions.
Multi-level multilingual documents may be created.
Exportation and languages:
Exports in XML, HTML, EPS, PDF and printing files.

Versions:

The previous Passport versions managed the following Western languages directly: Danish, French, English, Italian, Norwegian, Dutch, Spanish, Swedish and German.
Additional languages: Czech, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Polish and Portuguese.
Also available: an Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Japanese and Korean version and a Mundra version (for Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit and Nepalese).
Version 7, thanks to the Unicode and OpenType support, allows many languages and alphabets to be managed. The western Passport version, however, does not manage languages with right-to-left scripts (Arabic, Hebrew, etc.). The syllabication of many languages requires the use of third party Xtensions.