Virtual Typography

4.1

4

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Digital typography: 4.1 The digital revolution

4.2 Swiss Punk and the Pacifi c Wave

The digital revolution

The digital era in design began in 1983, when Apple

introduced the Apple Lisa, the fi rst desktop computer

with a graphical user interface (GUI). This enabled

users to operate computers intuitively with the help of

pop-up windows and drop-down menus. Apple Lisa

was followed by the release of the fi rst Apple Macintosh

in 1984. Its sales improved vastly in the following year

when the Apple LaserWriter, the fi rst laser printer (sold

in the US in 1985 at $6,995), and Aldus PageMaker,

the fi rst layout software application, entered the market.

Aesthetically, however, the digitally created artwork

suffered an initial setback. The memory capacities of

the fi rst Apple computers were very limited (128

kilobytes), and the size of the monochrome display

was restricted to nine inches (512 x 342 pixels). Even

though Apple licensed Adobe’s PostScript (a code that

enables vector-based outlines to rasterise effectively)

as early as 1985, it was not until 1989 that PostScript

was distributed internationally and recognised as an

industry standard. Therefore many designers had to

rely on dot matrix printers, which did not offer any

satisfying output.

Dot matrix printer

Dot matrix printers use pins that

strike against an ink-soaked cloth

ribbon in order to transfer a fi ne

pattern of dots on to paper. The

output quality process, which is

similar to that of typewriters, is very

poor by comparison to laser or

contemporary inkjet printers. For

this reason, dot matrix printers are

now rarely used.

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