Multimedia in Localization

While text often gets the most attention in e-learning localization, multimedia elements like images, audio, video, and interactions are equally important to creating an effective localized experience.

In Articulate 360, managing these elements thoughtfully ensures your courses resonate with learners across different cultures and regions. By planning your multimedia strategy within Rise and Storyline, you can create engaging experiences that feel native to each audience while keeping your workflow manageable.

Key Considerations for Multimedia Localization

• Images and visual content: Graphics that contain text will need special attention in Articulate 360. In Storyline, keep text separate from images by using text boxes overlaid on graphics rather than embedding text within images. Also consider whether images contain culturally specific elements (gestures, clothing, symbols) that might need adaptation.
• Audio narration: Articulate 360 makes it relatively straightforward to replace audio files for different language versions. Course texts and closed captions in Rise and Storyline are translated, but audio narration is not. See more details about what gets translated here. After translation, use Storyline's AI Voices to generate text-to-speech in the target language. Remember that narration timing will vary between languages, so build flexibility into your animations and slide timing.
• Video content: Videos present unique challenges in localization. Within Articulate 360, video closed captions are translated using Articulate Localization. For efficiency, design videos with minimal on-screen text and consider using universal visuals that work across cultures to reduce the need for complete recreation. Add closed captions to the video before translating the course into the target language. 
• Interactive elements: Buttons, hotspots, drag-and-drop activities, and other interactions in Storyline 360 need to accommodate translated text that may be longer or shorter than the original. Test interactive elements with sample translations to ensure buttons don't overflow with text, drag items remain properly aligned, and that all functionality works with expanded text. Use variables for feedback and instructions to simplify updating these elements.
• Navigation and user interface: Remember that Articulate 360's player elements and navigation controls will also need localization. In Storyline, player strings and text labels are automatically set to each target language when published. In Rise, many interface elements will be automatically translated based on the language selection. Ensure that icons used for navigation are culturally universal, and test the user experience thoroughly in each language to identify any navigation challenges.

Next Steps

1. Conduct a multimedia audit: Review all images, audio, video, and interactions in your existing courses to identify which elements will need adaptation versus replacement.
2. Create a media replacement plan: Document which multimedia elements need to be recreated for each target language and allocate appropriate resources.
3. Develop multimedia guidelines: Establish standards for creating future multimedia content that will be easier to localize within Articulate 360.
4. Test with expanded text: Use placeholder text to test how your interactive elements and layouts respond to text expansion before beginning actual translation.
5. Build a resource library: Develop a collection of culturally neutral images, icons, and multimedia elements that can be used across multiple language versions.

Summary

Effective multimedia localization in Articulate 360 requires planning and attention to detail, but the results are worth the effort. By carefully managing images, audio, video, interactions, and navigation elements, you'll create e-learning experiences that feel native and engaging to learners in any language. Taking advantage of Articulate 360's built-in features while planning for multimedia adaptation from the start will streamline your workflow and improve quality across all language versions. Remember that well-localized multimedia doesn't just translate content—it transforms the learning experience to resonate with each audience's cultural context.