Member Sup… Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 This topic was imported from the Typophile platform Hi there: Unfortunately, I'm not as fluent as much as I'd like to be in the anatomy of letters. Here are a few lowercase a's that have interesting characteristics that I'm not sure how to describe using the proper jargon. This post is spurred on by recent release of Droid from Ascender. It has a peculiar terminal affectation that I have seen many times before, but now is the time to learn all about it. Esprit is probably the first instance I can think of. There are also other design features I'm interested in. Here are the subjects: 1. DTL Unico There is not a sharp point in this entire letter (except in the inkwell). Its smooth like it's from letterpress. What would a type designer call this global treatment of smooth curves? 2. DTL Dorian The circled area is the first example in which the terminal looks like a brush stroke and comes to a sharp point in the inside of the counter. What are these terminals called? The arrow points to an area that has been purposely made bulbous. What is that feature called? 3. Ascender Corp. Droid Serif The second example of that terminal treatment. The arrow points a slab spur which definitely enhances readability and sturdiness for low-res display and printing. Is slab spur the correct term? 4. Type Culture Latienne The third example. The arrow points to an area (spur, tail?) that is pointed upwards. What do we call that? 5. Linotype Really This one looks like it would have been like the others but the terminal has been chopped. Just interesting thats all, no question. :-) Thank you all for responses, Mike Diaz :-) Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 Echo, Echo, Ehco, Ehco... Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 Aww come on I really want to know what these things are called... I checked all stuff too :-( Link to comment
Member jup… Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 You could add Dolly to your list. What if there isn't any terminology for what you are talking about? Link to comment
Member Wil… Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Mike, people do sometimes create descriptions of these kinds of variations, but I don't think there are any standard names. Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 13, 2007 Author Share Posted November 13, 2007 Jupiter & William> If I was Matthew Carter describing lowercase 'a' to Erik Spikermann, what words would he use? I'm sure there has to be a standard lexicon understood from one professional to another. I'm just going off the very specific language I see type designers use describing their designs. :-) Dolly Laurentian Esprit Mikey :-) Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 BRUSHY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Paul :-) Link to comment
Member Sim… Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 i really like lowercase a's... nice... Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 6, 2008 Author Share Posted November 6, 2008 Thank you Simon! I’m glad someone else likes my favorite letter. Mikey :-) Link to comment
Member pau… Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 well i'm not sure 'brushy' is a technical term, but it works for me in trying to describe these types of treatments. Link to comment
Member eli… Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Would anyone call the circled part of #4 a foxtail? Link to comment
Member Wil… Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 >Foxtail Yes, I think that's a good name for that shape. Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 I like that too. Now WWESS. That is: What Would Erik Spikermann Say? Mikey :-) Link to comment
Member hra… Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Here's what I would call those features: #1: Flattened teardrop; the footserif: soft, or rounded. #2: Cusp (the whole thing: flattened foxtail). #3: Modest foxtail. #4: Foxtail. #5: Shear (the whole thing: sheared teardrop). Dolly: modest foxtail. Laurentian: foxtail. Esprit: exaggerated foxtail. As you can see I rely on "foxtail" a lot, even though I only heard it recently: https://typography.guru/forums/topic/56990-forwarding I thing it basically means "cuspy teardrop", which has become the terminal du jour. hhp Link to comment
Member Sup… Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 Thank you Hrant! I have wondering the answers to questions for some time. Thanks, Mikey :-) Link to comment
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