Need name suggestion for the axis controlling apex in variable font

Ariq Syauqi
Ariq Syauqi Posts: 13
in Technique and Theory
Hello TypeDrawers!

This is my first topic here, hopefully I'm doing it right.

Currently I am playing with variable font format and want to add an axis controlling the middle apex especially on M and W.
I try to create something like this:

What's the best name for this axis? Is "Middle apex height" right?

Any suggestion will help.

Thank you!
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Comments

  • Chris Lozos
    Chris Lozos Posts: 1,460
    Crotch?

  • Thomas Phinney
    Thomas Phinney Posts: 2,977
    edited January 2020
    An “apex” is at the top, like the join at the top of /A or perhaps the one in the middle of /W. “Crotch” is the opposite, the center join in the /M, but because of its particular anatomical meaning, is arguably not an ideal word to use in an interface. Also, if the middle part of the /W is also adjusted downwards, it is no longer an apex, yet still arguably not a crotch.

    “Vertex" is an appropriate word that would apply to the center junction in both /M and /W.
  • Chris Lozos
    Chris Lozos Posts: 1,460
    waistline?

  • Christian Thalmann
    Christian Thalmann Posts: 2,012
    Depth? Cleavage?
  • Thomas Phinney
    Thomas Phinney Posts: 2,977
    Chris Lozos said:
    waistline?

    To me, that means primarily the height of the traditionally mid-height things, such as the crossbar on H, centre bar of E, and possibly the middle bits of P, R, G, F as well.
  • Chris Lozos
    Chris Lozos Posts: 1,460
    I was thinking the middle bits of the M and W where all hell breaks loose ;-)
  • Helmut Wollmersdorfer
    Helmut Wollmersdorfer Posts: 212
    Center joint/break?
  • K Pease
    K Pease Posts: 182
    Since it seems to be only relevant to M and W, there is more clarity in mentioning them than in any other words you choose. So call it "M-W Center Depth" or similar.
    I do believe "depth" is more descriptive than "height" here because it's a matter of how far the angle plunges into the letterform, in either direction. "Height" implies distance above the baseline, and I assume that you aren't making it so that setting a "low" center is deep for M and shallow for W.
  • Ariq Syauqi
    Ariq Syauqi Posts: 13
    While the term cleavage seems good🙂🙂🙂, I think vertex depth describes it well!
    K Pease said:
    Since it seems to be only relevant to M and W, there is more clarity in mentioning them than in any other words you choose. So call it "M-W Center Depth" or similar.
    I do believe "depth" is more descriptive than "height" here because it's a matter of how far the angle plunges into the letterform, in either direction. "Height" implies distance above the baseline, and I assume that you aren't making it so that setting a "low" center is deep for M and shallow for W.
    Yes, I agree with you. Depth is the better term I think, and I am planning to make it clearer for the user by adding (M,W,w) after "Vertex Depth".

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