From e0c6872cf40896c7be36b11dcc744620f10adf1d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Norbert Preining Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2019 13:46:59 +0900 Subject: Initial commit --- info/digests/texline/no10/didot.tex | 150 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 150 insertions(+) create mode 100644 info/digests/texline/no10/didot.tex (limited to 'info/digests/texline/no10/didot.tex') diff --git a/info/digests/texline/no10/didot.tex b/info/digests/texline/no10/didot.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..8b62303ee5 --- /dev/null +++ b/info/digests/texline/no10/didot.tex @@ -0,0 +1,150 @@ +\def\blt{$\bullet$} +\centerline{\bf DIDOT} +\centerline{\bf European project for training} +\centerline{\bf in +numerical typography} +\smallskip +\noindent +The Laboratory of Peripheral Systems of the Polytechnic of Lausanne is +preparing a project for continual training in digital typography. This +project seeks to establish a European system for training for typographers +and artists with a view to enabling them to use new creative tools and for +computer experts in order to make them competent to create these new tools. +This training therefore would be carried out by mixing the two groups in +shared seminars. In fact, the purposes the project are several: + +\item{\blt}To prepare a curriculum which would define the type of training +which + would be carried out; +\item{\blt}To define tools, especially computer-assisted, for this instruction; +\item{\blt}To organise short duration courses to validate these methods; +\item{\blt}To anticipate the training of instructors in professional schools. +\smallskip +\leftline{\sl Objectives of the project Didot} +\noindent +The object of project {\sc Didot} (`Digitalisation and Design of +Typefaces') is to conceive, to equip and to evaluate a European programme of +instruction in digital typography for computer experts and graphical arts +specialists. This area includes not just the creation and use of fonts (and +more generally logos, drawings, etc.) in printing or for laser printers, but +also for all sorts of displays, computers, television, etc., +tele-distribution, (of which fax. is just a first sketch) their storage +(CD-ROM, for example) etc. In other words, this sector is an important one, +even though this is not always recognised. +\smallskip +\leftline{\sl Reasons for the project and its origin} +\noindent +While the great typographical inventors + (Gutenberg, Baskerville, Mergenthaler, Higgonnet and Moyroud, Karow, +B\'ezier, etc) are European in origin, the market in typefaces has for a +number of years been in the hands of some American firms. (ITC, Bitstream, +Adobe, Allied, etc). By a market we mean the market of the artistic creation +of the font and its `giving it a number' and finally its distribution. The + recent font-war (choice of a standard) proves that very adequately. + Europe could be better placed in this market thanks to a better + knowledge of the new technologies, hence the need for a formation which + is `state-of-the-art' and mixed (computer specialists and + graphical specialists). + Didot is also the +name of a whole French dynasty of font-engravers, founders, printers or +booksellers, whose activity spans more than three centuries. The most famous +are probably Fran\c coise Ambroise Didot (1704--1804) who gave his name to the +Didot point, a typographical unit still used in most European countries +and his son Firmin Didot, (1765--1836) who drew `Le Didot'. + +The state-of-the-art technology have reached a certain maturity. On + the other hand, training in this area remains very localised and + Europe remains thus dependent on countries which do not necessarily + share its culture. + +The modern display interfaces (NeWS, Display \PS) and programs on + page printers are based upon derivatives of the page descripion language + \PS. It is essential that European industrialists should be + capable of developing their own controllers for displays, printers and + phototypesetters based upon such a language. + +Very soon, all computer and office systems will incorporate extensive + typographic possibilities/facilities; it is therefore essential to bring + together European typographers, computer specialists and industrialists. + This training will permit the exchange of information between teachers + and students from diverse industrial academic and artistic backgrounds. + It ought to be possible to obtain a very significant synergistic result. + + + +\smallskip +\leftline{\sl Types of activities and training be undertaken} +\noindent +The principal activities of project {\sc Didot} therefore concern the +preparation of a curriculum and associated tools. At the same time, training +will be carried out with a view to validating this program of instruction. +The types of training to be carried out concern, for example, + +\item{\blt}For typographers who create fonts, how to use the new computer + tools + +\item{\blt}For computer specialists of PME, the bases of classic typography, + the computer-based techniques of rasterisation, etc., + +\item{\blt}For specialists in office equipment, (distance distribution, + storing CD-ROM, etc) standards and servers for fonts. + +\item{\blt}For researchers in typography, how these new technologies + enable new developments in typography. + +\smallskip +\leftline{\sl Proposals} +\noindent +Project {\sc Didot} therefore proposes: +\item{\blt}To prepare in collaboration with the PME who are concerned and + with typographers and computer experts and researchers who are + computer experts in this domain a curriculum; that is to say, + to conceive a programme of courses in digital typography +\item{\blt}To develop tools for this training both CAI tools for teaching + in groups and for individuals +\item{\blt}To validate these tools in training sessions. +\item{\blt}To train the instructors on the relevant professional courses, + e.g art school, high school of graphic art and printing, so + that they can instruct their pupils in the new technologies. + +\noindent The organisers have already been involved in attempts at training of +this kind -- the INRIA school `Typography and Computer at Rennes, 1985', and +Aussois, 1987 `colloquium on digital typography at Sophia-Antipolis (1987)' +`Raster Imaging and Digital Typography at Lausanne, 1989'. Conference on +Electronic Publishing at Nice, 1988; as well as many courses of a more +academic nature at EPFL Lausanne and at the University of Rennes. +These have always been successful both with PME and with researchers. + + +\smallskip +\leftline{\sl Results to be obtained} +\noindent +\item{\blt}To introduce font designers and logo designers to the new + technology, and notably to the use of computer-based systems + +\item{\blt}To initiate computer experts in the problems of traditional + or digital typography + +\item{\blt}To enable European industrialists to acquire the knowlege + necessary to develop an \PS-like interpreter and to + follow the work of international groups working on standardisation + +\item{\blt}To bring about, through the contact of these groups and + through the presence of motivated instructors a symbiosis + whose indirect fallout ought to be the creation of new tools + adapted to meet the true needs of creators and users. +\smallskip +\leftline{\sl Input required} +\noindent +This project will be presented at the end of February 1990, under the title +`{\sc Didot}' within the auspices of the Comet-2 programme to the European +Community. + +In order to give it weight, we wish to demonstrate that this indeed +coresponds to a need both of typopgraphers and of industrialists and +researchers. We would therefore like to hear from your institution +telling us what you think of this project. We are at your disposal for +further information. + +\rightline{\sl Jacques Andr\'e \& Roger Hersch} +\rightline{\sl (translated by Malcolm Smith)} -- cgit v1.2.3