1 min read

Paul Brainerd, Founder of Aldus PageMaker and Desktop Publishing Pioneer, Dies Aged 78

Canopy Business

Paul Brainerd, the founder of Aldus Corporation and creator of PageMaker — the software that launched the desktop publishing revolution in 1985 — died on March 4, 2026, at age 78. Brainerd coined the term "desktop publishing" and built the software that, combined with the Apple LaserWriter and PostScript, democratised professional-quality print production for the first time. His work laid the foundation for modern print and web design workflows, making PageMaker a direct ancestor of today's tools from Adobe (which acquired Aldus in 1994) and the broader creative software industry.

Key Takeaways

  • Paul Brainerd (1947–2026) founded Aldus Corporation in 1984 and launched PageMaker 1.0 in 1985 — the first desktop publishing application, designed for the original Macintosh and Apple LaserWriter
  • Brainerd coined the term "desktop publishing"; Aldus PageMaker was the first major application to use PostScript for print-quality typography on personal computers — enabling a new category of professional software
  • Aldus was acquired by Adobe Systems in 1994; PageMaker was eventually superseded by Adobe InDesign; 66 HN points and 12 comments on Adafruit's tribute post, March 6, 2026

Original source: Adafruit Blog / Hacker News