I think that this is a great definition, all anatomies should be laid out in any profession. Also, this is a great example of the evolution of type over the years, and the progression of type as we know it.

I quite agree with you Wesley.

Just out of curiosity, what does it take for a new definition to become part of a typographic lexicon?

Is it enough if a lot of people just pick up a new word and use it, or is there a more formal process?

It's apparently been a while since that last extraordinary session ;)

That would be "Nuestra Señora del Pilar" in Spanish.

"Manka'ntok" in the dialect of my hometown.

Since it's an artifact of stencil limitations, isn't it called a connector or bridge? Stencil fonts are just affectations, like rough typewriter fonts.

Outside of typographic context, in architecture and airplane construction for example, a "pylon" is a kind of projecting strut or stick-shaped structure used for mounting components like engines, equipment nacelles, pods, bridge sections, girders.

The only sense I can think of in which that applies to a lettering stencil is *projection* into letter and glyph forms. Other than that these so-called "pylons" don't have anything mounted on their ends.

Since it’s an artifact of stencil limitations, isn’t it called a connector or bridge?

On the stencil itself, I would call those parts "connectors" or "bridges", since they connect the surrounding material together and act as a kind of land bridge.

For the artwork---the lettering produced by a stencil---I call the blank areas "gaps". Just common sense really. Going on a "gapping spree" is the easiest way to turn an ordinary font into a textured font ;^)

j a m e s

A term for the area between letter bits in stencil type fonts

I hope I don't sound awfully naive, but isn't that space a gap rather than a structure? It's an absence, not a presence.

You guys should stop kidding around. This is serious and we need to make sure we get it right. Type Terminologists of the future are counting on us.

Uncanny resemblance:-)

ChrisL

I just talked on the phone with the Head of the Board of Directors, he's evaluating the effect of temper on his pylon :

We're all gonna get kicked out of here!

Either that, or a moderator who shall remain nameless will pop in here and tell us that we are all CRAZY! :-)

I actually did contact a stencil maker. Bridge is what they call it. Connector is a logical second option. I don't think it's necessary to invent a new, separate term for the same thing in a digital stencil font. One thing maybe worth differentiating: real, functional bridges versus fake, digital ones.

Note: Silkscreening is essentially a stencil technique; anything including thin threads or hair can act as bridges, so it's possible to make stencils that don't look like stencils. I've used long hairs as bridges on stencils for house numbers where the letters would be too ambiguous and unreadable with fat paper bridges. "Invisible bridge"..... Add it to the wiki. ;)

Actually the question was who takes a call on things like these - whether it should be pylon or something else.

'Need to be more careful with questions like that in future :)

Floods?

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Ever since I chose to block pop-ups, my toaster's stopped working.

I actually did contact a stencil maker. Bridge is what they call it. Connector is a logical second option. I don’t think it’s necessary to invent a new, separate term for the same thing in a digital stencil font.

Cool beans, Carl. Good to know.

"I meant Yves... He did that in a couple of threads;"

I remember that, Ricardo. I think I was the culprit the last time, too :-)

ChrisL

Alessandro,

I have to figure out how to search for it. It was a bunch of bad puns as usual but I can't remember good key words!

ChrisL

Should we tell him?

You are all Crazy!

Ah!! That felt great. This does seem like a pretty silly thread. But that's okay.

I think Pylon is a silly term to use. I think the plain spoken "gaps" is where it's at.

It's a bridge.

Period.

You are welcome.

-=®=-

Rationale for not calling it a bridge: a bridge has rails along the edges to help prevent people and vehicles from veering off the edge. How many stencil types have visible rails along the edges of their "bridges". Probably none.

"Gap" is a simpler analogy with the advantage of no rails and ease of spelling.

j a m e s

On the actual stencil that is a physical object, calling it a bridge makes perfect sense. On the stenciled letter, it makes perfect sense to call it a gap.

Yep-yep-yep. I distinguished the two different cases earlier.

Have some cheese everybody! Cheese smells nice ;^)

j a m e s

I believe Haley posted the thread as an amusing topic but their could be a gap in my thinking so we might wait and cross that bridge when we come to it--besides, pyling on is a 15 yard penalty.

ChrisL