Al-Rassam Al-Arabi is a specialized Arabic desktop publishing and utility software developed by Layout Ltd.. It is primarily designed to bridge the gap between Arabic text entry and non-Arabic-enabled graphic design applications, making it a staple for designers and professionals in the Middle East. Key Features and Capabilities
The software serves as a floating palette where users can type and edit Arabic text before exporting it to other programs.
Design Application Integration: It allows users to use Arabic in popular design software that might not natively support the script, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Macromedia Flash.
Font Library: The package includes 22 high-quality Arabic fonts, with an additional 10 free fonts available upon registration. It supports both ASCII and Unicode formats, ensuring compatibility with modern versions of the Creative Suite and other multimedia tools.
Typography Controls: Users can adjust spacing, kerning, and ligatures. A unique "Flip Numerics" feature allows for one-click reversal of number strings (e.g., changing "123.456" to "654.321").
Bilingual Interface: The software offers a full bilingual user interface, including menus and help documentation, which can be viewed in two languages simultaneously.
Al-Rassam Al-Arabi is utilized across various sectors for professional Arabic content creation:
Graphic Design: Creating Arabic banners, headlines, and posters for print and digital media. al rassam arabic typing software
Web Development: Generating animated Arabic text and buttons for websites without needing a system-level Arabic language kit.
Publishing: Facilitating self-publishing for students, freelancers, and home-based professionals. Compatibility and Availability
The software is designed for Windows environments, historically supporting versions from Windows 95 through XP and newer.
Full Version: Available for purchase at approximately €175.00 (net) or $199.99, often provided as a digital download or on CD-ROM.
Demo Version: A free trial is typically available on the CoDesCo IT Consulting website, though it may have character limitations or a reduced font selection. Modern Alternatives
While Al-Rassam Al-Arabi remains a classic choice for legacy workflows, users looking for modern typing tutors or simple mobile inputs may consider:
Arabic Typing Tutor: A dedicated software for learning how to type in Arabic using the classic typewriter layout. What is Al Rassam Arabic Typing Software
Tamam Arabic Keyboard: A popular mobile app for Android featuring ornate fonts, emojis, and translation capabilities. Al-Rassam Al-Arabi - CoDesCo IT Consulting
At its core, Al Rassam is a Unicode-based Arabic typography and calligraphy software. Unlike Microsoft Word or basic text editors that treat Arabic as a left-to-right afterthought, Al Rassam was built from the ground up for the unique characteristics of the Arabic script: ligatures, contextual shaping, and kashida (character stretching).
Developed in the early 2000s and refined over two decades, Al Rassam became the industry standard for Digital Arabic Calligraphy. It allows users to type in over 30 distinct Arabic calligraphic styles, ranging from the rigid angularity of Kufi to the flowing curves of Diwani and the bold structure of Thuluth.
Standard software is left-to-right (LTR) with a right-to-left (RTL) override. Al Rassam uses a pure Bi-directional calligraphic grid. It understands that the vertical drop of a letter like Raa (ر) changes if the previous letter has an ascender. The software recalculates the baseline in real-time.
The software is niche, but its impact is deep. You will find Al Rassam in the following industries:
Step 1: Acquisition Original versions of Al Rassam (often "Al Rassam 2016" or "Al Rassam Pro") are available through Middle Eastern software distributors like Burj Al Tech or 4B Vision. Be cautious of free downloads; many cracked versions lack the font rendering engine and will display as gibberish.
Step 2: The Interface The interface is reminiscent of Windows 98/XP, which is aged but functional. The key areas are: scan with antivirus before running.
Step 3: Typing Secrets To master Al Rassam, forget the QWERTY keyboard for a moment.
Step 4: Exporting Never cut and paste from Al Rassam to Word. The formatting will collapse. Instead, use the "Export to Image" (high-res PNG) or "Copy as Metafile" (for vector pasting into CorelDRAW or Illustrator).
On-Screen Virtual Keyboard
Highlights finger positions and key placements. This is critical because the Arabic keyboard layout differs significantly from QWERTY (e.g., أ is on the top row, م on the bottom row).
Graduated Lessons
Starts with the home row (middle row: ط, م, ن, etc.), then adds top and bottom rows, and finally numbers and diacritics (Tashkeel).
Real-Time Feedback
Shows:
Custom Text Import
Allows you to paste your own Arabic text (e.g., news articles, poetry, work emails) to practice real-world typing rather than just random letter drills.
Diacritic Support (Harakat)
Many versions include shortcuts for Fatha, Damma, Kasra, and Sukun—essential for typing Quranic verses or formal Arabic correctly.
Games & Drills
Falling-letter games, timed challenges, and dictation exercises to maintain engagement.