001/ Typesetting · Layout · Programming

Typesetting that fits.
Code that delivers.

Book, magazine, math and music typesetting in FrameMaker and InDesign, document preparation in Word, accessible PDF documents, and programming that speeds up production.

  • 30+ years in publishing
  • FrameMaker · InDesign · Word
  • German and English
  • Krefeld, Germany, and the US

002/ Services

Services

Nine services for publishers, editorial teams and production departments. Each one can be demonstrated on the desk above.

Document preparation

with Microsoft Word

  • Consistent styles instead of direct formatting, page after page
  • Tables of contents, cross-references, footnotes and figure numbering
  • House templates (.dotx) for the whole team
  • Manuscripts prepared cleanly for typesetting

Book typesetting

with Adobe FrameMaker

  • Large, structured works with hundreds of pages
  • Book files, conditional text, automatic numbering
  • Consistent indexes, cross-references and tables of contents
  • For specialist books, manuals and technical documentation

Book typesetting

with Adobe InDesign

  • Novels, nonfiction and specialist publications
  • Text block, baseline grid and precise typographic detail
  • Paragraph, character and object styles for efficient revisions
  • Print-ready PDF/X files for your printer

Magazine layout

with Adobe InDesign

  • Layout grids and parent pages for every issue
  • Text and image layouts, decks, pull quotes and sidebars
  • Repeatable routines for periodicals
  • Preflight and output to your printer's specification

Math typesetting

with Adobe FrameMaker and InDesign

  • Formulas for mathematics, physics and chemistry
  • Display and inline equations, cleanly numbered
  • Import from MathType, MathML and LaTeX
  • Consistent styling across the whole work

Music typesetting

with Adobe InDesign

  • Music examples in textbooks and reference works
  • Songbooks and choir scores with lyrics under the notes
  • Score graphics anchored in the text flow
  • Consistent sizes and spacing in every example

Accessible documents

meeting PDF/UA-1 and WCAG requirements

  • Tag structure, reading order and alternative text
  • Compliant with PDF/UA-1, WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549
  • From InDesign, FrameMaker and Word, or by remediating existing PDFs
  • Checked against the Matterhorn Protocol, with a test report

Workflow optimization

for editorial and production

  • Analysis of the process from manuscript to print PDF
  • Shorter turnaround through templates and automation
  • Clear handoffs between editorial, typesetting and printing
  • Training and documentation for the team

Development & programming

for publishing and production, also using AI

  • Scripts for InDesign and FrameMaker (ExtendScript)
  • Word macros (VBA), Python tools and InDesign UXP scripts
  • XML workflows and automatic conversions
  • AI-assisted checking and tagging steps in production

003/ About

About

I'm Dirk Hemke, based in Krefeld, Germany. For more than thirty years I have provided typesetting, consulting and programming for publishers, editorial teams and production departments. My work includes books, magazines and scripts that automate typesetting.

When a project needs more hands, I work with an established network of experienced specialists. I meet deadlines and usually answer questions the same day.

Tools
Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Word, Acrobat
Languages and platforms
ExtendScript, UXP, Python, VBA, Java, XSLT
Standards
PDF/X-4, PDF/UA-1, XML, Unicode
Working languages
German and English

004/ Contact

Contact

Need help with a manuscript, a magazine issue or a workflow? Tell me briefly what you need. I usually reply the same day.

Contact

How can I help? I usually reply the same day.

Or write directly to kontakt@satzpro.de