3. Characteristics
• Modern Roman
• Sharp and definite
• Versatile--used to print works of Voltaire and
today’s fashion magazines
• Introduced a contrast between thick and thin
elements--best used for headlines, makes for
weak body copy
Introduced a contrast between thick
and thin elements--best used for
headlines, makes for weak body copy
4. Origins
• Enlightenment period--conformity without
ambiguity, abstract but mathematically
precise
• Re-popularized in 1920-30s; middle of
“modern” art period
• Along with Bodoni, dominated printing until
the late 19th century. Bodoni became more
popular because Didot’s serifs kept breaking
off in the printing press
5. Origins
• Enlightenment period--conformity without
ambiguity, abstract but mathematically
precise
• Re-popularized in 1920-30s; middle of
“modern” art period
• Along with Bodoni, dominated printing until
the late 19th century. Bodoni became more
popular because Didot’s serifs kept breaking
off in the printing press
Didot / Bodoni
6. ot
id ily
D m
Fa François
1689-1757
-famous Parisian printer
-owned a bookstore called The Golden Bible
François Ambroise
1730-1804
-was called the “best printer of his time”
Pierre François
1732-1795
by Benjamin Franklin’s grandson
-founded a paper factory
-published a bible
-adapted the point system for measuring
type (his points were called didots or “dd”)
Henri
1765-1862
Pierre Firmin -developed an
extremely small type
1760-1853 1764-1836
-engraved the money
-printed books using -created the typeface Didot used during the
the Didot typeface -invented the word “stereotyping” French Revolution
-published books for -was appointed director of the
the Louvre imperial foundry by Napoleon
7. Didot Close Up
tween
cont rast be in tall ascend
ers
and th
Didot
thick and decen
ders
l axis
v ertica
abrupt b
ilateral
hairline
serifs
