A commonly used trick of graphic designers is to use specially generated text to represent the actual copy which a page will contain once it is written. This is sometimes done because the text isn’t created yet, because someone else will be responsible for entering it, or just for demonstration purposes. AWEBthatWORKS uses this when we’re designing website templates.
The reason we do this is two-fold. First, it takes time to write “fake” text which looks real. Second, if we just repeat the same word or phrase over and over, it doesn’t let your eye absorb it the same way you would real copy. For example:
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This creates unnatural columns of spaces and text, and is distracting when trying to look at all the other elements, and the design as a whole.
Probably the best known automatic generator is www.lipsum.com, which lets you generate a specific number of words or paragraphs of placeholder copy, also known as dummy text. This tool uses some genuine Latin words, with other words added and removed, so the actual text is nonsensical and wouldn’t actually translate to genuine text. Here is an example of how the generated text appears:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas tristique dui magna. Donec leo dui, vulputate venenatis faucibus et, facilisis quis arcu. In eu quam ut orci vestibulum congue. Cras consectetur risus nec magna porta semper. Sed urna velit, lobortis nec facilisis in, aliquet sed massa. Suspendisse sit amet turpis urna, vitae lacinia lorem. Sed sagittis mollis faucibus. Curabitur ut iaculis turpis. Integer ut nunc et massa volutpat molestie et quis tortor. Integer ac tellus quis diam varius gravida. Aliquam ut eros tellus, volutpat ullamcorper turpis. Sed dui nibh, ultrices sit amet interdum quis, fermentum vel nibh. Suspendisse potenti. Aenean eget velit metus, vel tristique lorem. Vestibulum porttitor lorem id turpis scelerisque vitae ornare risus dapibus.
A few other great sites which provide a similar service:
- Blind Text Generator (http://www.blindtextgenerator.com/lorem-ipsum)
Has options to choose from Lorem Ipsum, Cicero, and a few other options. - Random Text (http://www.randomtext.me/)
Has options to choose from Lorem Ipsum or Gibberish, as well as letting you generate html code.
Here are a bunch of Lorem-Ipsum-inspired generators using different word sets we thought you would enjoy:
Cupcake Ipsum (http://cupcakeipsum.com/)
Sugar-coated lorem ipsum generator. Lets you choose the length and density of text, as well as whether to include how much you love the various confections.
Cupcake ipsum dolor sit amet carrot cake gingerbread wafer. Ice cream jelly beans donut wypas pastry oat cake I love icing. I love pastry I love apple pie cookie wypas. Wafer cake I love jelly beans muffin sugar plum. Jujubes I love chocolate bar. Cheesecake cheesecake soufflé. Faworki sweet jujubes cookie chocolate sugar plum I love chocolate bar.
Fillerama (http://chrisvalleskey.com/fillerama/)
Allows you to choose from Doctor Who, Dexter, Futurama, Monty Python, The Simpsons, and Star Wars. Includes great options for html formatted text, including headers and lists, and includes the name of the episode the text is from.
The Curse of the Black Spot
They’re not aliens, they’re Earth…liens! Sorry, checking all the water in this area; there’s an escaped fish. Stop talking, brain thinking. Hush. You know when grown-ups tell you ‘everything’s going to be fine’ and you think they’re probably lying to make you feel better? You hit me with a cricket bat.
Bacon Ipsum (http://baconipsum.com/)
A meatier lorem ipsum generator. Lets you choose “all meat,” or “meat and filler.”
Bacon ipsum dolor sit amet velit flank prosciutto chicken, boudin pancetta et ut voluptate duis pastrami qui proident spare ribs enim. Flank cillum id in. Cow ea shankle ribeye bacon venison. Biltong eiusmod et, excepteur pork chop in anim flank duis sed fatback. Drumstick sunt non, tempor t-bone est pork loin sirloin meatball labore ut ground round. Proident jowl bresaola ut nisi non tri-tip magna chicken swine pastrami.
Fillerati (http://www.fillerati.com/)
Allows you to choose an author and title, and creates text based on that work. Includes many titles, such as Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Also gives options to generate html content, and select the number of paragraphs.
They had just started to cross this queer bridge when a sharp growl made them all look up, and to their horror they saw running toward them two great beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers.
“They are the Kalidahs!” said the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble.
“Quick!” cried the Scarecrow. “Let us cross over.”
Veggie Ipsum (http://veggieipsum.com/)
The vegetarian lorem ipsum generator.
Mung bean mung bean parsnip bitterleaf eggplant lentil grape black-eyed pea pea sprouts swiss chard artichoke kale. Komatsuna grape gourd tatsoi celery summer purslane garlic quandong kohlrabi gumbo nori eggplant potato wattle seed tomato scallion. Groundnut mung bean turnip courgette kakadu plum soybean brussels sprout ricebean burdock fennel chicory zucchini avocado.
Hipster Ipsum (http://hipsteripsum.me/)
Artisanal filler text for your site or project. Allows you to add Latin, or not, and choose the number of paragraphs.
DIY forage trust fund farm-to-table. Typewriter occupy locavore irony chambray art party. Narwhal etsy selvage vinyl seitan aesthetic. Skateboard mlkshk ennui pinterest salvia, gluten-free cosby sweater iphone photo booth jean shorts yr cred cray post-ironic. Trust fund you probably haven’t heard of them mumblecore keytar messenger bag forage. Iphone fingerstache gastropub brooklyn, readymade you probably haven’t heard of them 3 wolf moon direct trade freegan mlkshk kale chips. +1 hoodie pop-up skateboard, vinyl williamsburg marfa.
The Postmodernism Generator (http://www.elsewhere.org/pomo/)
Generates a full article, including citations of sources. Simply reload the page to get a completely new version.
If one examines postcultural textual theory, one is faced with a choice: either accept Lacanist obscurity or conclude that the raison d’etre of the artist is social comment, given that culture is equal to truth. Therefore, Foucault uses the term ‘neomodernist deconstruction’ to denote the bridge between reality and society.
United Ipsums of America (http://unitedipsums.com/)
Allows you to choose a political figure, quantity and density of text and generate from their speeches. Also includes links to each politicians website and a cute bust graphic, as well as a counter for who is generated most often!
Words do inspire. I’m inspired by the people I meet in my travels–hearing their stories, seeing the hardships they overcome, their fundamental optimism and decency. Hope! Change is never easy, but always possible. We are a people of improbable hope. I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. We need change. Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land: enough!
Hope is not blind optimism. One voice can change a room. Let us keep that promise. The American story has never been about things coming easy. For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. America, this is our moment. Let us keep that promise. It’s important to make sure that we’re talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.
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