Comments on: Letters, the round parts

By: John McWade

John McWade — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:14:16 +0000

What’s not visible in the photo is the full phrase, NO PARKING LOADING ZONE. The red vehicle is indeed stopped, but only long enough to load the kids.

By: Ted Pendlebury

Ted Pendlebury — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:09:02 +0000

Oh, and by the way, I love typography. And this site is pretty cool, too. :)

By: Ted Pendlebury

Ted Pendlebury — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:07:34 +0000

Regarding those appearing to be parked in the no-parking zone, note the signage in the driving lane. Maybe those vehicles are actually moving, since they are being detoured.

By: David

David — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:41:33 +0000

I thought that when I was taught this way back it was referred to as “entasis.” Looking at definitions now, all seem to refer to the swelling of classical columns so that optically they appear straight and not concave in appearance. This is similar in that it’s a visual technique used to coerce the eye into believing objects appear as we imagine them to be.

By: ozEworks

ozEworks — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:15:54 +0000

I love fonts, but I am a user not a developer of them. I found this very interesting.

thanks

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:45:50 +0000

Well hot dog, I never knew that! Thanks for pointing it out. And I agree with Margaret (above) — I didn’t even notice the cars parked there until she mentioned it! Amazing what we overlook.

By: BT

BT — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:40:33 +0000

Usually you stay outside the lines or think outside of the box to be different. Interesting to see that sometimes you have to be “outside” just to fit in.

By: Don Cheke

Don Cheke — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:40:44 +0000

Well, it’s true — you learn something new every day!

I have noticed the size variation in fonts over and over for years, and never knew that there was a perfectly sound reason for this. I have had to trace fonts on occasion for 3D work, and I have actually corrected for this perceived error. Oops!

Having it explained here is great, because it now makes perfect sense to me, and I know that I will never look at a font the same way — or worry about what to do during the next tracing session.

By: Kisan

Kisan — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:47:05 +0000

Isn’t it the same with verticals and horizontals in the fonts?

The vertical in T is thicker than the horizontal.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:14:28 +0000

I think the sketch font has its place. In the case of the New York Times curriculum guides, it serves the purpose of appearing less formal, but still retaining a traditional structure. Paired with the chalkboard graphic, it actually takes on a "chalk board" feel. Speaking as a teacher, it says to me, "Even though I have to write this on a chalkboard, I am still going to try hard to adhere to the rules of good typography."