Abstract: Apparatus and method of generating variable size, point-display type characters. Each character is defined through a matrix comprising a plurality of identical block elements. One of a predetermined number of geometric patterns forming a section of each character is disposed within each block element. A distinct binary index code is assigned to each geometric pattern on a row-by-row, column-by-column basis of each character matrix for the entire character set to be displayed and stored in a first memory. A binary code defining the sequence of binary states of the points in the point display of each geometric pattern is assigned to each geometric pattern on a line-by-line basis for each block element of the character matrix. The first set of binary codes are selected on a row-by-row, column-by-column basis for the character matrix of the selected character.