Pouya Jahanshahi The Nastaʿlīq developed in the fourteenth-century (Iran) script is renowned for its intricate beauty and revered for the extensive mastery of the craft needed to be composed. This research examines how this ancient script has adapted and embraced the digital realm through a comparative study that navigates this intricate relationship. After tracing the historical significance of the Nastaʿlīq script and its traditional usage for Persian and Urdu languages, we move forth to present the challenges it has brought to the arena of digital typography. This research discusses how Nastaʿlīq script researchers and calligraphers are rising to the challenge of preserving the script’s elegance and authenticity in the digital domain, highlighting techniques and strategies used to allow for its usability while maintaining its traditional allure.
Beyond exploring the emergence of technologies—such as the advent of the OpenType platform—that broadly influenced the Arabic script realm as a whole, this research brings forth specific technologies, such as Deco type, that strived through innovative approaches to enable the implementation of the Nastaʿlīq script, shedding light on their impact on the practice of this art form. Through a comparative analysis, we will address aesthetic nuances, examining the precision of strokes, ligatures, and artistic intricacies in both traditional Nastaʿlīq and its digitally produced forms. Broader implications are considered from a cultural and linguistic lens, elucidating how the presence of the Nastaʿlīq script in the digital sphere contributes to preserving and promoting Persian and Urdu languages and cultures.Contemplating future possibilities, we consider emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), alongside potential ethical considerations in preserving the authenticity of this ancient art form.
While pointing out the challenges at hand, this research aims to celebrate the harmonious convergence of Nastaʿlīq script’s traditional artistry with contemporary digital innovation.