Byte magazine artist Robert Tinney, who illustrated the birth of PCs, dies at 78
Byte magazine artist Robert Tinney, who illustrated the birth of PCs, dies at 78
Publish Date: 2026-02-11 16:51:00
Source Domain: arstechnica.com
- Robert Tinney, renowned for his iconic airbrushed cover paintings for the computer magazine Byte, passed away on February 1 at age 78.
- As the primary cover artist for Byte from 1975 to the late 1980s, Tinney played a pivotal role in giving personal computing a distinctive visual language.
- Tinney produced over 80 covers for Byte, primarily using Designers Gouache for its vibrant colors, and took about a week to complete each design.
- His art prominently featured influences from surrealist artists René Magritte and M.C. Escher.
- Tinney’s association with Byte began when a phone call from Carl Helmers led to his first cover painting for the magazine’s December 1975 issue.
- Throughout his career, Tinney’s works gained significant popularity, leading him to sell limited-edition signed prints and, eventually, T-shirts featuring his designs.
