Ignoring Extremum in Flared Serif?

WillBennett · July 2024

Hello Typedrawers!

I've been lurking for a while, but this is my first post. The forum has been a phenomenal resource, and I am excited to join in!

I'm working on a glyphic typeface inspired by early-20th century liqueur posters and packaging, and I have run into a question I'm struggling to answer. For angled letters such as the /V, should I be adding points at the extremes highlighted below? Or is that unnecessary?

Thanks for the advice!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5019405/uploads/editor/r6/d9spmylu60bl.png

John Hudson · July 2024

Nodes as extrema are primarily necessary for hinting, so if a location does not need a hint link, then the nodes can be omitted.

My own inclination is usually to include nodes if doing so does not distort the curve. Sometimes, on shallow curves, adding a node will round the curve in a way that is unpleasing.

Thomas Phinney · July 2024

On that V in particular, those two potential inner extrema points are very unlikely to get used in hinting. They are not part of some standardized distance you would want to control. They could get rounded to the grid, but being in the middly of a curve (and an inner one at that), such rounding would not be to major benefit in terms of keeping crisp outlines on some devices.

Overall, I think of this particular choice in this case as highly optional and a matter of personal preference or habit as much as anything.

WillBennett · July 2024

Hinting is not a subject I have devoted a lot of time to, so this is very helpful. Thank you both!

Ignoring Extremum in Flared Serif?

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