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    • Need name suggestion for the axis controlling apex in variable font

    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

    • Posts: 1,458
      Crotch?

    • Posts: 2,958
      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.
    • Posts: 1,458
      waistline?

    • Posts: 1,999
      Depth? Cleavage?
    • Posts: 2,958
      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.
    • Posts: 1,458
      I was thinking the middle bits of the M and W where all hell breaks loose ;-)
    • Posts: 212
      Center joint/break?
    • 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.
    • 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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