The Pica System

In the USA, the Fournier System was further used. Later on, it was merged with the british Caslon System and formed the Pica-Point System.

Due to the increasing use of computers, the Pica System was also introduced here in the mean time, and has become the standard in the DTP sector. This is why the pica point is also called DTP point.

The Pica System is based on the international inch, which measures 2.54 cm or 25.4 mm.

One pica point measures about one 1/72 of an inch, which is in turn 0.351 mm or 0.934 Didot points.

The following units can be derived in this system:

1 inch is equal to 6 pica, , which is equal to 25,4 mm.

The unit name is point, abbreviated pt.

1 pt = 0.351 mm

thus, 1 pica equals 4.218 mm