Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
Ivan | Fri, 2004-10-22 12:19This time of the year, just before Christmas is the time for the annual reports. You migh often need to use dummy copy to fill up the areas designed to hold text. Traditionally the dummy copy called lorem ipsum was used. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It has been popularised 'recently' with desktop publishing software and in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing 'lorem ipsum' passages.
However it's not a good solution to use the latin text in all cases, because blocks of text in different languages look differently. The lenght of the words, the amount of spaces and the average composition of the letters make up a very distinct look of a copy block on the page. Using the appropriate language is important to get the right look of your sample pages. This is where Judebear software's free Mac OS X application comes into the picture.
MacLorem uses the classic “lorem ipsum” phrase to generate random text, providing more variety and a more realistic, non-repetitive and naturally uneven look. Simply clicking on a button marked Generate will create random text, placing it in MacLorem’s main window and simultaneously placing it on your clipboard so it is ready to paste into the document you are designing.
Download MacLorem 2.0 (900K).
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You can also use the online Lipsum Generator, or if you are tired of Latin, try Malevole – which generates quite interesting chunks of English dummy text.
kit! Malevole is really funny. :)
Mutley, you snickering, floppy eared hound. When courage is needed, you're never around. Those medals you wear on your moth-eaten chest should be there for bungling at which you are best. So, stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon. Howwww! Nab him, jab him, tab him, grab him, stop that pigeon now.
Told you! ;) There's a bad part also – the client is going to be busy trying to read and figure out the blind text, hehe.
I always use bits of songs. I keep a text file of weird songs I happen to like... usually whatever is on itunes at the moment. I had a boss stand and read it one time... I was using the words to a Dar Williams (folk) song:
Get off your cat walk, I want you to talk
To be the seer instead of the seen
There is a flower, a leaning tower
And all of the wonders standing between
I don't want to be another mystery oh no
I don't want to see who's looking at me oh no
I want to be the one to feel the sun oh oh
So if you want to see the world with me let's go
The alligator, the god that made her
And all the creatures that got left behind
In Mycnnae, Ave Maria
And everything you gotta dig harder to find
I don't want to be a vapor of heavenly light
Everybody guess if I'm an angel or sprite
I don't want to be another mystery oh no
I don't want to see who's looking at me oh no
I want to be the one to feel the sun oh oh
So if you want to see the world with me let's go
You could pursue it, hell I could do it
I'll just be quiet when I get angry and hurt
I'm stopping traffic, cinemagraphic
With my long black coat hanging down in the dirt
And my hair clinging to my face in the rain
Like a goddess from the cult of beautiful pain
I don't want to be another mystery
I don't want to be another mystery
I could cut you off with a shoulder of stone
Smoke all night and leave the party alone
Screw myself with an inscrutable pout
But I just want you to come figure me out
I don't want to be another mystery oh no
I don't want to see who's looking at me oh no
I want to be the one to feel the sun oh oh
So if you want to see the world with me let's go
It was really funny hearing him read it!
~therunningwolves
I find InDesign's built in generator to be sufficient.
lipsum.com is also good...
i'd second lipsum.com too, i found it cool and very easy to use.
(using song lyrics could result interesting if you're using lyrics with mature language (so, choosing a Cannibal Corpse song is a bad idea ;]))
I use excerpts from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness from Project Gutenburg. Sometimes.
At Photoshop techniques, we have athreadwhere "Whole Lotta Rosie" translated in latin. It could replace the lorem ipsum as the new standard:
Whole lotta Rosie (Latin translation by Meredith Dixon):
Multa Rosa
Volo dicere vobis
Feminae quam scio.
De venere Rosa
Vincit omnino.
Haud femina formosa.
Haud parvissima.
Sed ab mammis ad coxas, euge!
Rosa vincit omnia.
Nunquam iniveram;
Nunquam iniveram vero.
Agis omnia;
Agis omnia -- quaeso!
Nympha nunquam eris.
Non aranea.
Sed gravissima semper
Omni modo maxima.
CHORUS:
Multa femina Rosa,
Femina Rosa.
Multa es Rosa
Et multa femina Rosa.
O, mella, agis semper.
Agis mihi per noctem.
Unam iam volo,
Solum unam feminam.
Cum sol occidit,
Donec sol redit.
Rosa agit,
Et non desistit.
Malevolem solved a problem I'd been having for a while -- I've never been able to figure out the words to Top Cat's theme song!
--John from Manchester, NH, stuck in the 60s...