[sdiy] typographic measurements [WAS: Metric vs imperial, was: My new Moog 960 sequencer clone module project.. slowly but surely ..]

[Olav Martin Kvern]

Donald Tillman wrote: "Measurement units, ratios, and multiples are very 
important in design.  For example, we see that the standard unit in 
typography is 72 points to the inch."

For the most part, that's true--now. I was a typesetter before the 
"desktop publishing" fad came along, and our points were 0.013837 inch, 
or around 72.27 points per inch.

Warnock and Geschke, the founders of Adobe, standardized the point at 
exactly 1/72 inch, or 0.013888... inches in their Imagen Interpress page 
description language, a branch of which became the PostScript 
interpreter in the original LaserWriter. That's what we now call the 
"PostScript point."

Some countries still prefer to use the older definition of the 
point--when I was working on the Japanese version of InDesign, it was a 
surprise that the "PostScript point" was not acceptable in that market. 
This is why you can define what you mean by a "point" in InDesign's 
preferences.

My synth DIY workflow involves making PDFs from DesignSpark, turning the 
PDFs into g-code via InDesign scripting, then using the g-code to mill 
the board using my CNC machine. I also use InDesign to create front 
panel designs that I use to etch anodized aluminum with a laser cutter, 
and prepare code for OpenSCAD programs for 3D printing.

It is possible that my workflow is weirder than David Dixon's use of 
Excel.:-)

Thanks,

Olav Martin Kvern <--17 years at Aldus/Adobe; 40+ years in graphic arts