FiftyThree#Paste

FiftyThree was co-founded in 2011 by Georg Petschnigg, Jonathan Harris, Julian Walker, and Andrew S. Allen.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} Former colleagues at Microsoft, the company aimed to build creativity tools that were less encumbered by the dense UI common to software used by creative professionals.{{cite web|last=Lowe |first=Mike |url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/125357-fiftythree-interview-from-microsoft-courier-roots-to-paper-and-pencil |title=FiftyThree interview: From Microsoft Courier roots to Paper and Pencil |publisher=Pocket-lint |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

Initially operating out of Petschnigg's apartment, they began work on their first product, Paper, which launched in March 2012 and was chosen by Apple as the iPad App of the Year. Two additional products, Book by FiftyThree and Moleskine, and Pencil by FiftyThree, were released in 2013,{{cite web|last=Taber |first=Linley |url=https://nypost.com/2014/03/02/meet-three-techies-shaking-up-the-nyc-digital-world/ |title=Meet three techies shaking up the NYC digital world | New York Post |publisher=Nypost.com |date=March 2, 2014 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} followed by the 2014 releases of the FiftyThree SDK and Mix, and the release of Paper 3.0.

According to a 2013 article on Wired, the name FiftyThree references the physical space in which a person creates: "An average human's arm's reach is 53 centimeters ... a sort of invisible sphere encompassing head, heart, and blank canvas."{{cite magazine|author=Kyle VanHemert |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/06/fiftythree-makers-of-the-hit-sketching-app-paper-score-15-million-in-vc-funding/ |title=FiftyThree, Makers of Hit Sketching App 'Paper,' Score $15M in VC Funding |magazine=Wired |date=April 9, 2014 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

Since its inception, the company has maintained a nearly 1:1 ratio of designers to engineers.{{cite web|url=http://live.fastcompany.com/Event/QA_With_Andrew_Allen |title=Innovation By Design: A Q&A With FiftyThree's Andrew Allen |work=Fast Company |date=September 25, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} The team is composed of employees who have previously worked at Microsoft, Sonos, Google, Adobe, Apple, and Nike, among other companies. As of December 2014, the company employs 51 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.fiftythree.com/about |title=About |publisher=FiftyThree |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

In June 2013, FiftyThree announced raising a $15 million Series A round of funding, led by Chris Dixon at Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors included SV Angel's Ron Conway, Highline Ventures' Shana Fisher, Thrive Capital's Josh Kushner, and Twitter / Square founder Jack Dorsey.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/paper-an-ipad-app-raises-15-million-2013-6 |title=Paper An iPad App Raises $15 Million |publisher=Business Insider |date=June 18, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

FiftyThree collaborated with Women's Wear Daily in February 2013 to live sketch Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City,{{cite web |url=http://www.flare.com/fashion/ipad-and-paper-new-york-fashion-week-show-goers-live-sketch-the-runway-from-an-app/ |title=WWD & FiftyThree App Paper Live Sketch New York Fashion Week |publisher=FLARE |date=February 15, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531124050/http://www.flare.com/fashion/ipad-and-paper-new-york-fashion-week-show-goers-live-sketch-the-runway-from-an-app/ |url-status=dead }} and in July 2013 they partnered with Historic Royal Palaces in London to bring technology to the Fashion Rules exhibition at Kensington Palace.{{cite web|author=David Phelan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/technology-in-royal-fashion-new-paper-app-designed-for-fashion-rules-exhibition-at-kensington-palace-8726739.html |title=Technology in royal fashion: New Paper app designed for Fashion Rules exhibition at Kensington Palace - Features - Gadgets and Tech |work=The Independent |date=July 22, 2013 |accessdate=May 29, 2014}} They have subsequently partnered with (RED){{cite web|title=Create A Difference with Apps for (RED)|url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/103462692968/create-a-difference-with-apps-for-red|publisher=FiftyThree|access-date=April 8, 2016|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210021019/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/103462692968/create-a-difference-with-apps-for-red|url-status=dead}} to raise awareness and funds for AIDS, GE{{cite web|title=Visualize the Universe Inside Your Head with GE|url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/104178333133/visualize-the-universe-inside-your-head-with-ge|publisher=FiftyThree|access-date=April 8, 2016|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210021519/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/104178333133/visualize-the-universe-inside-your-head-with-ge|url-status=dead}} to use art to visualize brain activity, and Skillshare{{cite web|title=Free Class: Learn Data Visualization with Paper and Skillshare|url=http://blog.fiftythree.com/posts/data-visualization-with-paper|website=The Open Studio}} to teach classes using Paper. Skillshare classes were taught by artist Shantell Martin and data visualization expert Catherine Madden.

In 2014, FiftyThree moved their NYC headquarters to 60 Hudson, the original home of the Western Union Company{{cite web|url=http://www.archdaily.com/486853/fifty-three-inc-add/ |title=Fifty Three, Inc / +ADD |publisher=ArchDaily |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} and moved their Seattle offices to the historic Pioneer Square.

In March 2015, FiftyThree announced raising a $30 million Series B round of funding, led by Dayna Grayson at New Enterprise Associates (NEA). With the support of NEA, FiftyThree will grow their product offerings in business and education.{{cite web|last1=Lawler|first1=Ryan|title=FiftyThree Lands $30M From NEA To Build Creation Tools For Enterprise And Education Users|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/17/fiftythree-30m-think-kit/|website=TechCrunch|accessdate=August 15, 2015}}

Paper by FiftyThree is an iPad application launched in March 2012. Two weeks after its release, it amassed 1.5 million downloads and 7 million pages had been created in Paper.{{cite web|last=Reisinger |first=Don |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/paper-app-for-ipad-hits-1-5m-downloads-in-2-weeks/ |title=Paper app for iPad hits 1.5M downloads in 2 weeks |publisher=CNET |date=April 12, 2012 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} As of April 2014, Paper has been downloaded over 10 million times and over 100 million pages have been created. According to FiftyThree's blog, creators have spent one millennium in the app combined.{{cite web |url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/68094348892/100-million-thanks-in-march-2012-we-released |title=100 Million Thanks In March 2012, we released |publisher=FiftyThree |date=November 25, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223072004/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/68094348892/100-million-thanks-in-march-2012-we-released |url-status=dead }}

Paper contains digital journals in which users can create sketches, diagrams, illustrations, notes, or drawings, and share them by email or across the web. Paper is available in ten different languages, is free to download, and comes with the Draw tool. The additional tools Sketch, Outline, Write, Color, and Mixer can be added via in-app purchases. Paper was built using an OpenGL framework, making it the first productivity tool to match the world of digital gaming. Paper flows between tasks with real-time 3D and shadows, includes a touch-gesture rewind feature, and a touch-gesture zoom.{{cite web|last=Hollister |first=Sean |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/14/3318154/paper-for-ipad-fiftythree-sketching-the-future-of-app-startups |title=Six months of Paper: sketching the future of app startups |publisher=The Verge |date=September 14, 2012 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

Paper released a new tool in October 2012: Mixer, which allows users to create custom colors by "mixing" two colors together in the color well. As of April 2014, over 47 million colors have been created using Mixer.{{cite web|last=Dannen |first=Chris |url=http://www.fastcolabs.com/3002676/open-company/magical-tech-behind-paper-ipads-color-mixing-perfection |title=The Magical Tech Behind Paper For iPad's Color-Mixing Perfection ⚙ Co.Labs ⚙ code + community |publisher=Fastcolabs.com |date=November 8, 2012 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}}

In May 2013 the Made With Paper Stream launched to showcase user creations. The addition of Presentation Mode followed shortly, which allows users to hide the tool tray and menus when Paper is connected to a second display or projector.{{cite web |url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/63401094378/paper-takes-the-stage-with-new-presentation-mode |title=Paper Takes The Stage With New Presentation Mode |publisher=FiftyThree |date=October 7, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301045120/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/63401094378/paper-takes-the-stage-with-new-presentation-mode |url-status=dead }}

FiftyThree updated Paper for iOS 7 in March 2014 {{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/03/12/fiftythree-paper-ios-7/ |title=FiftyThree Updates Creativity App Paper For iOS 7 To Improve Navigation And Control |publisher=TechCrunch |date=March 12, 2014 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} and the November 2014 Paper 2.1.0 update included Adobe Creative Cloud integration, which allows users to export Paper pages directly into Adobe Creative Cloud Storage, and the Adobe programs Photoshop and Illustrator.{{cite web|last1=Rossignol|first1=Joe|title=Paper by FiftyThree updated with Adobe Creative Cloud integration, push notifications and other improvements|url=http://9to5mac.com/2014/11/08/paper-fiftythree-adobe-creative-cloud-integration/|website=9to5mac|accessdate=December 16, 2014}} In December 2014, FiftyThree updated Paper to include the features Color Picker and Swap Background Colors, which respectively lets users to sample colors from the canvas and save them to the palette, and swap background colors without losing drawings.{{cite web|last1=Calimlim|first1=Aldrin|title=Paper by FiftyThree updated with new 'colorful' features and Mix social improvements|url=http://appadvice.com/appnn/2014/12/paper-by-fiftythree-updated-with-new-colorful-features-and-mix-improvements|website=AppAdvice|accessdate=December 16, 2014}}

In September 2014 FiftyThree launched Mix. Mix is a public part of Paper where users can share their work, or work on someone else's shared creation.{{cite web|last1=Lawler|first1=Ryan|title=FiftyThree's Paper Introduces 'Mix' To Give Creators A New Way To Collaborate With Others|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/16/fiftythree-paper-mix/|website=TechCrunch|accessdate=August 15, 2015|date=September 16, 2014}} Mix contains templates, outlines, tutorials, notes, and sketches, and all creations shared are committed to the Creative Commons Universal Public Domain.{{cite web|last1=Hamburger|first1=Ellis|date=September 16, 2014|title=FiftyThree reveals Mix, a community for sharing and downloading any kind of Paper|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/16/6154513/fiftythree-mix-paper-for-ipad|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=The Verge|publisher=The Verge}} The December 2014 Paper 2.2 release updated Mix to allow users to add friends from Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook to their Mix contact list. The feature Global Search was also added, which enables users to find and follow people on Mix by their names and emails.{{cite web|last1=Keller|first1=Joseph|date=December 10, 2014|title=Paper by FiftyThree adds new color tools, makes connecting with people easier|url=http://www.imore.com/paper-fiftythree-adds-new-color-tools-makes-connecting-easier|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222102559/http://www.imore.com/paper-fiftythree-adds-new-color-tools-makes-connecting-easier|archive-date=December 22, 2015|access-date=January 24, 2022|website=iMore}} In March 2015, 157 days after launch, FiftyThree announced that Mix had surpassed 1 million accounts created.{{cite web|url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/112789042478/today-marks-a-significant-milestone-for-fiftythree|title=Today marks a significant milestone for FiftyThree|website=FiftyThree|accessdate=August 15, 2015|date=March 5, 2015|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210020939/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/112789042478/today-marks-a-significant-milestone-for-fiftythree|url-status=dead}}

In February 2015, FiftyThree announced the Draw, Sketch, Outline, Write, Color, and Mixer tools in Paper would be available for free in each download of the Paper app. The free version of the tools became available with the Paper 2.3.1 update.{{cite web|last1=Hall|first1=Zac|title=Paper by FiftyThree's essential tools now free for all iPad users|url=http://9to5mac.com/2015/02/05/paper-ipad-tools-free/|website=9to5mac|accessdate=August 15, 2015|date=February 5, 2015}}

In May 2015 FiftyThree announced Think Kit, three additional free tools in Paper geared toward creating charts and diagrams. The tools, called Diagram, Cut, and Fill, employ FiftyThree's trademark drawing recognition and rendering system called Intention Engine. It detects and corrects dozens of shapes sketched in real-time, enabling users to create presentation-ready charts, diagrams, graphs, flows, wireframes, and models.{{cite web|last1=Popper|first1=Ben|title=The Paper app can now transform my terrible drawings into slick presentations|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/12/8586909/paper-think-kit-53-pencil|website=The Verge|accessdate=August 15, 2015|date=May 12, 2015}}

Along with Think Kit, FiftyThree introduced a new sharing menu that allowed users to open work made in the Paper app in other productivity apps including Trello, Slack, Dropbox, Box, and more. Entire journals may also be exported to PDF and Powerpoint formats.{{cite web|last1=Lawler|first1=Ryan|title=FiftyThree Adds Think Kit, A New Toolset For Enterprise Users, To Its Paper App|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/12/fiftythree-think-kit/|website=TechCrunch|accessdate=August 15, 2015|date=May 12, 2015}}

In September 2015, FiftyThree brought Paper to the iPhone with the release of Paper 3.0. They introduced two new features: the photo import tool and the text tool. With photo import, users can take, import, annotate, and spotlight photographs. The text tool's swipe-to-style feature allows the user to format text and create bullet points by swiping left or right on the screen.{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Mark|title=Paper For iPhone Allows You To Text Digital Sticky Notes|url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/3050902/paper-for-iphone-allows-you-to-text-digital-sticky-notes|website=FastCo Design}} The classic notebook interface was replaced by "Spaces", where individual ideas are arranged in a grid view.{{Cite web|title=Put It On Paper|url=http://blog.fiftythree.com/posts/put-it-on-paper|website=FiftyThree|accessdate=September 20, 2015}} FiftyThree modified the Mix service as well, including switching the name to "People You Follow".{{Cite web|title = FiftyThree - Put It On Paper {{!}} Facebook|url = https://www.facebook.com/FiftyThreeInc/videos/vb.172756096113270/933625086693030/?type=2&theater|website = www.facebook.com|accessdate = September 20, 2015}}

In November 2017, the app added an optional monthly subscription and was redesigned for iOS 11.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/30/16719172/paper-fiftythree-paste-slideshow-slack-integration-collaborative|title=Paper developer FiftyThree launches its stylish slideshow app Paste on iOS|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=November 30, 2017|work=The Verge|access-date=November 30, 2017|publisher=Vox Media}}

Pencil by FiftyThree is a digital stylus modeled after the carpenter pencil. It launched in November 2013 in the U.S. and Canada, and came in two models: graphite, made from brushed aluminum, and walnut, made from sustainably-harvested walnut.{{cite web|url=http://www.core77.com/blog/tools/introducing_pencil_by_fiftythree_a_stylus_thats_been_designed_down_to_the_last_detail_25930.asp |title=Introducing Pencil by FiftyThree: A Stylus That's Been Designed Down to the Last Detail |publisher=Core77 |date=November 19, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} In January 2015, FiftyThree announced the availability of a third model of Pencil: Pencil Gold, made from an anodized, brushed aluminum. Pencil is an active stylus whose main features include palm rejection erase, and blend. Inside the tip and eraser are 14k gold-plated switches, allowing Pencil to communicate with an iPad over Bluetooth LE. Pencil's Palm Rejection allows users to rest their hand on the iPad while drawing, Blend lets users smudge or blur with their fingertips, and the built-in eraser enables users to flip Pencil around to erase.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/3021788/innovation-by-design/a-stylus-thats-like-a-pencil-on-steroids |title=From Paper, A Stylus That's Like A Pencil | Co.Design | business + design |publisher=Fastcodesign.com |date=November 19, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} Pencil is certified Bluetooth Smart and has a built-in battery that charges from a USB port.

In July 2014, FiftyThree announced the FiftyThree SDK, which allows software developers to fully integrate Pencil into third-party apps. FiftyThree launched the SDK in partnership with the apps Procreate, Noteshelf and Squiggle.{{cite web|last1=Summers|first1=Nick|title=FiftyThree's new SDK means its stylish Pencil stylus can now be fully supported in other apps|url=https://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2014/07/23/fiftythree-sdk-allows-app-developers-fully-support-pencil-stylus-palm-rejection-surface-pressure/|website=The Next Web|accessdate=December 16, 2014}} In November 2014 Mobile Mouse and Autodesk's Sketchbook were added to the list of Pencil-ready apps,{{cite web|title=Pencil. Now Supported by Sketchbook Mobile.|url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/101774472023/pencil-now-supported-by-sketchbook-mobile-were|publisher=FiftyThree|accessdate=December 16, 2014|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210020611/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/101774472023/pencil-now-supported-by-sketchbook-mobile-were|url-status=dead}} followed by Microsoft OneNote, Adobe Illustrator Draw, Adobe Photoshop Sketch, PicsArt Photo Studio, Tayasui Sketches, Astropad, PDFpen 2, Flowpaper, and ZoomNotes in 2015.{{cite web|title=Pencil-Ready Apps|url=http://www.fiftythree.com/pencil-ready|website=fiftythree.com}}

In September 2014 FiftyThree updated Pencil for iOS 8 and introduced Surface Pressure. Surface Pressure changes the variance of the lines drawn in Paper based on responsive transitions between Pencil's broad edge and tip.{{cite web|last1=Etherington|first1=Darrell|title=Pencil By FiftyThree Gets Surface Pressure In A Free Update Coming For iOS 8|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/06/17/pencil-by-fiftythree-gets-surface-pressure-in-a-free-update-coming-for-ios-8/|website=TechCrunch|accessdate=December 16, 2014}}

FiftyThree discontinued its hardware business in 2016.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/fiftythree-wetransfer-paper-app-acquisition/|title=FiftyThree, Maker of Popular Paper and Paste Apps, Gets Acquired|author=Lauren Goode|author-link=Lauren Goode|date=August 21, 2018|magazine=Wired|access-date=August 22, 2018|publisher=Condé Nast}}

In October 2013 FiftyThree launched Book in collaboration with Moleskine. Book is a 15-page, custom-printed, foldout notebook of a user's Paper sketches. It is a newly invented format and the first time Moleskine created a journal to exactly match the iPad's 4×3 aspect ratio.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/3018873/design-and-print-your-own-moleskines-with-papers-new-book |title=Design And Print Your Own Moleskines With Paper's New "Book" | Co.Design | business + design |publisher=Fastcodesign.com |date=October 1, 2013 |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} The pages in Book are made from sustainable paper and use HP Indigo 4-color digital printing. The cover and spine image and color are customizable. Customers order Books from within the Paper app.{{cite web|author=Stuart Dredge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2013/oct/01/fiftythree-paper-ipad-moleskine-book |title=Paper iPad app brings digital sketches back to print with Moleskine 'Book' partnership | Technology |work=The Guardian |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} As of September 2015, the Book service was discontinued.

Paste is a paid presentation program released in 2017, and designed for enterprise clients.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/30/16719172/paper-fiftythree-paste-slideshow-slack-integration-collaborative|title=Paper developer FiftyThree launches its stylish slideshow app Paste on iOS|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=November 30, 2017|work=The Verge|access-date=November 30, 2017|publisher=Vox Media}} The app is available for iOS and on the web.

Paper by FiftyThree was named App of the Year by Apple in 2012. In 2012, Paper also won an Apple Design Award, a Crunchie Award for Best Design, and was an AIGA Design winner.

In 2013, Paper won the IxDA Interaction Award,{{cite web|url=http://awards.ixda.org/2013-interaction-awards/ |title=2013 Interaction Awards/ IxD Awards |publisher=Awards.ixda.org |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} IDSA's Gold IDEA award, and was recognized by Communication Arts in its Interactive Design Annual.{{cite web |url=http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai13/paperbyfiftythree.html |title=Communication Arts - 2013 Interactive Annual - Paper |publisher=Commarts.com |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031013408/http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai13/paperbyfiftythree.html |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=dead }} Time Inc. also featured FiftyThree in their annual list of 10 NYC Startups To Watch.{{cite magazine|last=Lombard |first=Amy |url=https://business.time.com/2013/04/25/time-inc-s-10-nyc-startups-to-watch-for-2013/slide/fiftythree/ |title=FiftyThree |magazine=Time |date=April 25, 2013 |access-date=April 26, 2014}}

In 2014, Pencil by FiftyThree won a Crunchie for Best Design,{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/video/pencil-by-fiftythree-wins-best-design-crunchies-awards-2013/518118898/ |title=Pencil by FiftyThree Wins Best Design | Crunchies Awards 2013 - Crunchies | TechCrunch TV |publisher=Techcrunch.com |date= |accessdate=April 26, 2014}} an IDSA Silver IDEA award in the Computer Equipment category, and an IDEA Gold for Packaging. Book by FiftyThree and Moleskine won IDSA's Gold IDEA award for Digital Design.{{cite web|title=Book And Pencil Shine At 2014 IDEA|url=http://news.fiftythree.com/post/90552722923/book-and-pencil-shine-at-2014-idea-last-july-our|publisher=FiftyThree|access-date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=December 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210060929/http://news.fiftythree.com/post/90552722923/book-and-pencil-shine-at-2014-idea-last-july-our|url-status=dead}}

In 2015, Mix won Communication Arts' Interactive Annual in the tablets/handheld device category,{{cite web|url=http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai15/mix.html|website=Communication Arts|title=Communication Arts - 2015 Interactive Annual - Mix|accessdate=August 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222133511/http://www.commarts.com/interactive/cai15/mix.html|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}} and won Bronze at the Edison Awards in the Collaborative Services category.{{cite web|url=http://www.edisonawards.com/winners2015.php|title=Edison Awards Winners 2015 |website=Edison Awards|accessdate=August 15, 2015}}

• Apple Pencil

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Category:American companies established in 2011

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Category:Apple Design Awards recipients