The Digital Type: In The Minds Eye

Irvin J. Engle
Professor Sullivan
Art 620
27 November 07

The Digital Type Revolution: In The Minds Eye

Computerized digitization of type design has created advanced technological tools to help meet the ever growing graphic needs of the typographer. The major applications of digitized type in electronic and print design have given rise to the development of more advanced software technology. Although creative ingenuity is still in the minds eye of the beholder digitization has revolutionized the process. Along with the new ingenuity come new standards and guidelines for the designer to keep up with.
Digitized print design has been going through many changes to help enable the real time solutions on the fly for rasterizing bitmap images of font. According to Wikipedia postscript is a page description and programming language used for electronic and desktop publishing developed that interprets images for print.(7) Rather than using bitmap PostScript draws and fills in Bezier curves to achieve better print imaging. Most printers in production today are dependent on internal computer postscript software programming interpretation by software called Ghostscript as opposed to the older postscript programming inside the printers. Wikipedia states that, “Ghostscript can also be used to preview PostScript documents on a computer monitor and to convert PostScript pages into raster graphics such as TIFF and PNG, and vector formats such as PDF.”(3) An on screen display system called Display PostScript uses PostScript (PS) imaging model and language to generate on-screen graphics as defined by Wikipedia.(2)
This evolutionary development has had software development companies reproducing the wheel so to speak of how postscript is utilized since the 1980’s. Most recently in the late 1990’s Adobe joined Microsoft in developing a technology called OpenType that is a scalable format for computer fonts. By 2005 Adobe had converted about one third of around 10,000 fonts to Open Type formatting available to the public. Wikipedia says, “As of 2006 every major font foundry and many minor ones were developing fonts in OpenType format.”(6)

The Journal of Typography: Octavo (8vo) marked a retaining spirit of the modernist dedicated to arguing the case for higher quality in typography. The 8vo design studio used traditional, craft-based working methods but an experimental approach to design in order to anticipate the computer-aided aesthetic of the 90s. This eight issue publication is compiled in a book called 8vo On the Outside by Lars Muller Publishers.(1 p.140)

This two-color, blue and orange poster utilizing both solid and outline versions of 8vo's interact font that was first developed for on-screen use and later a version was created for print.(4)(5)

This photo from the cover of Rassegna Grafica, 1955 by Franco Grignani demonstrated the impact that photographic manipulation was beginning to have on typography. (1 p.90)

The technology of the grid has gone beyond the 2 dimensional page layout mapping to involve a 3rd dimension that is very much utilized in desktop publishing for print, web graphics and electronic game development today.
Jeffery Shaw's developed virtual reality simulation gives the visitor a ride on a stationary bicycle through a simulated representation of a city that is constituted by computer generated 3D letters forming words and sentences along the sides of streets in his interactive work called, The Legible City 1989-91. Traveling through these cities of words is consequently a journey of reading; choosing the path one takes is a choice of texts as well as their spontaneous juxtapositions and conjunctions of meaning. (9)
(10)(8p. 236)
Using the ground plans of actual cities - Manhattan, Amsterdam and Karlsruhe - the existing architecture of these cities is completely replaced by textual formations written and compiled by Dirk Groeneveld. Designs like these encourage viewers to create their own narratives or associations.(8 p. 222-224)
Accordingly 20th Century Type mentions that, “It is in the advances made in the “typographic engine” and in probing three-dimensional typography or even four-dimensional typographic forms, that we see paths opening towards a strange new landscape of typographic form.” And that, “Crucially, programmers and the software company patrons need to be working alongside the type designers.”(1 p.158)
These technologies have certainly brought on some critically acclaimed solutions for processing text images for computerized electronic display and print. But the beauty of it all is still in the minds eye of the beholder and the need of the designer and the audience utilization of these technologies for expression. Good creative font costs money and good typographers are bound to get it. HTML has limited the boundaries of what creative font can be used in its language but other computer programming languages bring new means of expressing typography. Designers can create their own fonts today that can be displayed and printed in various new programming languages and editing software application formats. The creative possibilities are as endless and infinite as the depths of the minds eye of the beholder.

Works Cited:
1. Blackwell, Lewis.20th Century Type remix Revised.p.90,140,158(1998) Ginko Press, Incorporated 5768 Paradise Drive, Suite J Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA.
2. “Display PostScript.” Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation Inc. U.S. 25 November 2007.GNU Free Documentation License. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_PostScript, 26 November 2007.
3. “Ghost Script.” Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation Inc. U.S. 25 November 2007.GNU Free Documentation License. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostscript, 25 November 2007.
4. Holt, Mark. Muir, Hamish. 8vo ON the Outside. July 2005 532 pp Lars Muller Publishers Stadtturmstrasse 19 5400 Baden Switzerland
5. Holt, Mark. figure Poster: Fortuny graphic, Palazzo Fortuny, Venice, (1995). Eye 37, vol.10, Autumn 2000, pp.66-75. International Typography Almanac 2, Robundo, pp.288-293. http://www.markholtdesign.com/, 26 November 2007.
6. “OpenType.” Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation Inc. U.S. 25 November 2007.GNU Free Documentation License. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opentype, 26 November 2007.
7. “PostScript.” Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation Inc. U.S. 25 November 2007.GNU Free Documentation License. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PostScript, 26 November 2007.
8. Rush, Michael New Media in Art second Edition 222-224, 236(2005). Thames & Hudson Inc., 500 fifth Ave., New york, New York 10110.
9. “The Legible City Manhattan version.” (1989), Amsterdam version (1990), Karlsruhe version (1991) Computergraphic installation with Dirk Groeneveld Collection of ZKM-Medienmuseum, Karlsruhe, Germany.
http://www.jeffrey-shaw.net/html_main/show_work.php3?record_id=83, 26 November 2007.
10. “The Legible City Manhattan version.” (1989), Amsterdam version (1990), Karlsruhe version (1991) Computergraphic installation with Dirk Groeneveld Collection of ZKM-Medienmuseum, Karlsruhe, Germany.
http://www.jeffrey-shaw.net/images/083_004.jpg, 26 November 2007.

Who TYPED Me?

I would most definitely describe this example as text with interesting color treatment. This picture has been reproduced using only colored text in a program that I found on the web called Ascii-o-matic.
ASCII is the acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange and is a character coding based on the English alphabet representing text in computers, communications equipment and other devices that work with text.
The currently defined characters of the Ascii-o-matic can be selected as customized mapping for use in the Ascii-o-matic to reproduce photos like this one in color or black and white of varying sizes.

Is this U.S. typography for real?

This is typography I would like to have more of personally.

Here is a copy of the United States $100,000 Gold Certificate front and back issued in 1934.
(c/o Wikipedia’s, ‘Large denominations of United States currency article.’ )
This was an odd bill and not generally issued.
Gold certificates like these were issued after the gold standard was repealed gold was compulsorily purchased by presidential order of Franklin Roosevelt on March 9, 1933 and thus were used only for intra-government transactions.
The series was discontinued in 1940.
Circulation of high-denomination bills was halted in 1969 by executive order of President Nixon, in an effort to combat organized crime.

Heads and Tails above the Rest!!!

Business typography can be read heads and tails
above the rest along this great skyline view of
Baltimore City Inner Harbor at the busy
corner intersection of E. Pratt St..

This skyline view projects several examples of

business and banking typography.

Verizon,

Bank of America,

Legg Mason

and M& T Bank.

How old is Old English Text?

Here is an example of historical type reused in a contemporary design that seems to have been used for decades. This example of Old English text is from my 2006 Towson University Bachelor of Science Degree.
This next example is from the First Commencement of the Maryland State Normal School in 1866 found in a book called ‘The Campus History Series Towson University’.

First Graduates. At the first commencement on June 8, 1866, there were 16 graduates: 4 grammer school teachers and 12 primary school teachers.

Could this be the graduating class of Towson ‘08?

Here’s a bit of historical typography from the archives found in a book called ‘The Campus History Series Towson University’. It is a photo from the graduating class yearbook of the Maryland State Normal School in 1908. The Maryland State Normal school opened in 1866 and was a predecessor to Towson University. This archaic design of numbered typography shows some of the creative ingenuity of designers from the early 20th century. The number of graduates back than was very limited.

Class of 1908. The graduation picture for the class of 1908 is shown here using a popular style of arranging the graduate pictures within an image of the class year.

Here are some tasty flavors!

Local flavored typography straight from the Baltimore information site on restaurants, bars, museums, Baltimore inner harbor, Ravens football and Orioles baseball. If you’re looking for some flavored fun in Baltimore you can find some exciting places and scheduled events at this
Baltimore website.

Bon Apatite’!!

Far Out Typography from the Cosmo's?

Australia's Cosmo Magazine that is...... Here’s the scoop, this Guinness Book of World Record human suburban typography was created with 1,010 bikini clad bathing beauties on the Australian suburban beach of Bondi breaking the previous one of 300. This great photo I obtained care of Military photos network forming the word cosmos was a publicity stunt for Australia’s Cosmos magazine cover to be displayed in their January 2008 issue due to hit the stands December 3rd 2007. I first heard the news of this record breaking occurrence care of E online news reported by Valery Ortiz via Comcast.net fan video. Far out? What a hoot!!

Now Read This?

You can't miss this sign Baltimore is the city that reads.

While driving into Baltimore City south bound on the 5400 block of Route 40's Pulaski Highway underpass to the fork in the road to Monument St. the train track overpass adorns a beautiful display of painted typography announcing your arrival to Baltimore City. I don't know how many times I drove past this one but I can assure you it is one of the most legible signs you can read while driving. Take a Glimpse?

Graphic Graffiti?

This is Graphic Graffiti!!

While driving on the outskirts of Baltimore's Little Italy at the corner of the 500 block of S. Central Avenue and the 300 block of Eastern Avenue I found this tremendous display of Graffiti Typography. The bold lettering really caught my eye I had to stop to take a good look at this wonderfully painted display of artistry. To my surprise I found some small print that identified this artist as Philip Aldinger. Philip and I went to grade school together here in Baltimore and he was always a terrific artist. I found out he has his own graffiti and mural business and his number was displayed next to his signature on the art. Ingenious!!

Chalk Talk?

The teacher?This little corner market restaraunt caught my eye with it's quaint appearance and it's down home advertising. At first glimpse I thought someone was really standing there. I had to look again and take a double take to realize it was really a statue with a chalk board sign. Certainly a childlike typography addressing the elements of school days and chalk talk. But this old style typography really caught my eye well placed under a street lamp on the corners of the 900 block of Stiles St. and the 200 block of S. High St. Isabella's statue really stands out.

Blinding Affection?

Here is an example of distressed typography that really caught my eye. It seems to show a great sense of business sensibility geared toward the consumer for advertising. I found this while afoot at the Baltimore Inner Harbor's Gunther Circle. This display of typography was remarkably interesting not only because of the great details it could display but because of the affect of the rotating blind really drawing in one's attentions. The National Aquarium of Baltimore is a major attraction at the Baltimore Inner Harbor. The National Aquarium is recognized worldwide as an Aquarium of the World as referenced by MarineBio.org.

Sign on High?

Signs, Signs, Everywhere are a Signs?

My most favorite neon typography is found right in the heart of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The image I like the most sits high above it all on the Power Plant. It seems to be a standard for all Hard Rock Cafe's to have these terrific neon signs. Their website gives you a virtual visit to Hard Rock Cafe's all over the world. This terrific neon guitar shape displays the neon lettering of the Hard Rock Cafe logo high above everything at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. It can be seen when traveling North bound by the harbor on East Pratt St. by the World Trade Center of Baltimore. Being the guitar enthusiast that I am, I am sure you can imagine why I like this particular sign. This guitar shaped sign draws the attentions of many Baltimore visitors and residents as well. Isn't it remarkable how it appears to be almost like it is floating on air?

Things Are Looking Up?

An interesting example of urban typography can be found on Lisa Riemann's website. This beautiful portfolio displays her work. An article entitled Urban Typography led me to her site. Lisa says she was just looking up and, 'there it was'. Keep your chins up there's something to learn here. Lisa said, “…she should start looking up more…” People don’t usually look up people should look up more often. Doctors say take 5 minutes each day lying flat on your back looking up at the ceiling for good posture. My posture and perspective on life have improved. So if you want to be creative, have a good perspective on life and good posture keep looking up, it works.

© Photo from: 'Type The Sky' by Lisa Riemann ®

What is Typography all about?

Typography as defined by Wikipedia as, 'the art and techniques of type design, modifying type glyphs, and arranging type. Type glyphs (characters) are created and modified using a variety of illustrations techniques' etc... But what is a typography, since digitization opened up typography to new generations of visual designers and lay users. The, who, what, where, when, how and why of it all is continuing to encompass more and more users all over the world. I stumbled on a website that brings together many elaborate thinkers on the subject with an array of 124 English articles that touch base on various typography topics of interest in the typography world @ http://www.typotheque.com/articles/. One article in particular that struck my fancy since I am into research and development psychology was called, 'Experimental typography. Whatever that means' by Peter Bil'ak. It may not tell everyone everything but it leaves it open for suggestive creativity. One website that seems to touch base on a lot of technical jargon is about.com . I found a lot of useful typography jargon that affirmed my aesthetic beliefs about typography. The about.com site is definitely worth a gander. You know what they say, "What is good for the goose is good for the gander".
Happy gandering! Duck, duck, GOOSE!! Your it!!!

Peak-a-boo! Now You See It Now You Don't. Is it Magic?

Expressions of design on the Internet are something that is actually staring you right in the face most all the time. But we as novice designers are only beginning to get a peak of what really is an art called typography (or an art of perfection). Anyone can see the final product but what are the elements that comprise such efforts. Drafting an HTML code has everyone wondering if it is something so magical or is it just mathematically correct. Designers are constantly playing the game of peak-a-boo with the encoding. Do designers have something up thier sleeves? I would like to imagine it is a magical art in itself based on principals of encoding. The hand is quicker than the eye putting up web pages that can be seen in a blink of eye. But encoding takes more than a couple of blinks to grasp. Keeping in mind the basic principals of web design we can develop easy quick informative websites that will grab every one's attentions. I found a most interesting website called of all things "The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web" by Richard Rutter, Brighton, 2005. This website meticulously addresses the principals of typographic designs one principal at a time. I strongly advise taking a peak-a-boo.

To Blog or Not To Blog. That is the Question? Blog, Blog, Blog!!!

I had the occasion to read some very interesting statistically projected accounts of the futures of blogging at a blog site called Modern Life . "Modern Life is a blog about the web - development, design, search engines and statistics sometimes controversial, occasionally satirical but usually right on the nose." One blog in particular came to my attention called the 'Web Typography Cheat Sheet', by Stuart Brown November 17, 2006. It addresses the typical variables of letter size, spacing, height and word spacing with a twist of what would create a good impact for the reader's eye with one liner headings. I found it an attractive presentation that linked to some very interesting facts about blogging on the WWW called, "Who's Using What for RSS?" by the same author. I would strongly recommend taking a peak there is more here than meets the eye.