Multilingual dtp is the process of converting and adapting an existing graphic design document or publication into other languages.

It involves 3 steps:
1. translating the text into the required languages
2. typesetting those translated texts
3. producing the required output (digital or print)

However the term is also used in a broader sense to simply mean producing documents and publications in different languages.

The difference is the narrower definition always involves:
• graphic design programs/files, and
• therefore requires typesetting the foreign language texts.

In contrast the broader definition would include producing documents in Word or PowerPoint for example.

This is important as both using graphic design programs and typesetting foreign text require special know-how and expertise.