Junctions and 1 or 2 nodes

Sander Pedersen · November 2017

Some fonts have junctions that all end in a single node, some that all end in two nodes, some that use a mix of both depending on the glyph (the first two images are from the same glyph). Is there a rhyme or reason to it?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019405/uploads/editor/xr/c665bdh6d7if.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019405/uploads/editor/63/s00kyr4zbkbg.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019405/uploads/editor/3f/n52v8cvrt8np.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019405/uploads/editor/wp/d11bo3f1hfpy.png

Hrant Հրանդ Փափազեան Papazian · November 2017

I believe there are two rationales for the shear:
— Sharp corners can render in an ungainly way when the curves inescapably turn into dots, especially on-screen. Doyald Young has recommended a minimum angle of 30° (although that's probably an "unscientific" rule of thumb).
— It's an ink/light trap that's easy to deploy and does not result in distorted curves.

Nick Shinn · November 2017

Ironically, the two-point node scales better.
That’s because it is not so dependent on the resolution of the rendering mechanism.

Also, the sharpness of a single point node, especially in the groin of B, may be odd and uncomfortable in a typeface which has nothing else anywhere near as acute.

Junctions and 1 or 2 nodes

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