Known as Lorem Ipsum, lipsum or even bolo-bolo, the filler text used for graphics projects also goes by the more academic name of "faux text". This sequence of words, normally Latin, means absolutely nothing! Used at the mock-up stage, this false text is a real tool that allows the graphic designer to concentrate solely on the layout of his project.
Authentic Latin words from a work by Cicero
Richard McClintock, a professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, has uncovered the source of the Lorem Ipsum, focusing on the word "consectetur" in the forged text. The bolo-bolo comes from a text by Cicero, the De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, over two thousand years old.
History has it that Lorem Ipsum was first used in the 16th century to assemble a specimen book of typefaces. None of this seems to be true. A convincing argument is put forward by Latinists: before the 19th century, Latin was an international language understood by many literati, so using real Latin words to make headless sentences is unlikely!
Lorem Ipsum, a child of the 20th century popularized by Letraset
Although the creator of lipsum remains unidentified, the use of false text probably began in the 20th century, and more precisely shortly after the appearance of the British company Letraset in the 1960s.
Letraset markets the first letter plates (letter decals for graphic designers of the time), popularizing faux text.
Where did the text that served as a model for Letrasetâeuros come from? Sociologist Philippe Cibois conducted an investigation in 2012. In a 1914 edition of De Finibus, the pages used were found, making it possible to trace the changes made to create Lorem Ipsum. When questioned, Letraset was unable to confirm this investigative finding, and indicated that the legend circulating was that a sales manager from the Canadian subsidiary was behind the creation of Lorem Ipsum.
A fake text with a touch of mystery! The arrival of the digital age put an end to the famous decalcomania, but not to the use of Lorem Ipsum, which continues to evolve in the world of printing and the web, and even elsewhere.
False text can also be set to music: just listen to Lorem Ipsong pop song produced in 2022. He also made films with Tintin, appearing briefly in an animated version of Black Island in which a gangster is seen reading a newspaper written in bolo-bolo.
And, of course, page-layout software generators now provide endless versions of Lorem Ipsum. Enough to make you lose your Latinâeuros!
