François Ambroise Didot
François Ambroise Didot (born January 7, 1730 in Paris ; † July 10, 1804 there ) was a French printer , type caster and publisher .
Didot, son of the printer François Didot (1689–1757) and brother of Pierre-François Didot (1732–1795), who also worked as a printer, developed the typeface named after him, Didot , a classicist Antiqua . It became the predominant font in Europe. It differs from the livelier Renaissance Antiqua and is characterized by fine hairlines and squareness.
Didot gained special importance through the development of its own typographical unit of measurement in 1780 (other sources speak of 1784), the so-called typographical point (Didot point), which was based on a division of the so-called "Parisian foot" (1 foot = 12 inches, 1 Inches = 72 points). This Didot's normal or Parisian system retained its validity when the DTP or pica point was introduced and brought a standardization and standardization of font sizes. One meter thus divided into 2,660 Didot points, a Didot point measures around 0.376 mm.
He also became known for the establishment of papier vélin in France - a smooth and soft paper on which the antiqua script came into its own.
His sons Pierre Didot (1760-1853) and Firmin Didot (1764-1836) continued the family's printing tradition.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Didot, François Ambroise |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French printer, type founder and publisher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 7, 1730 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Paris |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 10, 1804 |
| Place of death | Paris |