Aldus PageMaker: The First Widely-Used Desktop Publishing Program

To exploit the capabilities of the new Adobe PostScript scalable typefonts, the graphical user interface of the Apple MacIntosh (MAC), and the new Apple Laserwriter, in July 1985 Paul Brainerd, founder of Aldus Corporation, Seattle, Washington, introduced PageMaker, the first widely-used WYZIWIG page layout program for personal computers. Initially PageMaker ran exclusively on the MAC, which had been introduced in 1984, but a PC version followed in 1986, running under Windows 1.0, which was introduced in November, 1985.

To assist in marketing the software Brainerd coined the term “desktop publishing.”

Aldus Corporation was purchased by Adobe Systems in 1994.

(This entry was last revised on 01-26-2015.)