Comments on: What is a Pylon? http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/ A blog on typography. Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:43:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: loveme http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/comment-page-1/#comment-1027 loveme Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:21:12 +0000 http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/#comment-1027 Ive been cutting stencils since 99, and my friends and i have always refered to these as Bridges, like "Dude, you forgot to cut the bridge..." Ive been cutting stencils since 99, and my friends and i have always refered to these as Bridges, like “Dude, you forgot to cut the bridge…”

]]> By: Ray Larabie http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/comment-page-1/#comment-602 Ray Larabie Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:22:52 +0000 http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/#comment-602 I've always called them supports but I ain't no stencil expert. Bridge makes good sense and requires no explanation. It also has the advantage of coinciding with one of the basic dictionary definitions of "bridge" that even a child knows. While pylons are used for support (jet engines, bridges) I can't get the image of an orange fluorescent plastic cone or a certain new wave band outta my head. But I appreciate that you've addressed the need to discuss those stencil thingy things. The disadvantage of calling them bridges is that you've already registered a domain name for the pylon thing. I’ve always called them supports but I ain’t no stencil expert. Bridge makes good sense and requires no explanation. It also has the advantage of coinciding with one of the basic dictionary definitions of “bridge” that even a child knows. While pylons are used for support (jet engines, bridges) I can’t get the image of an orange fluorescent plastic cone or a certain new wave band outta my head. But I appreciate that you’ve addressed the need to discuss those stencil thingy things. The disadvantage of calling them bridges is that you’ve already registered a domain name for the pylon thing.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/comment-page-1/#comment-588 Jeff Wed, 26 Dec 2007 05:11:13 +0000 http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/#comment-588 This is a ridiculous name for the sake of having a "justifiable" typographic identifier for a stencil letter... The term "bridge" has lasted for decades, and it sums up concisely the gap between stencil breaks just fine. Another term is "gutter". In truth, must we have every single component of type defined so meticulously to the point of ad nauseum? This is just a quirk of [originally] metal type designers... Sign painters have a more simplified group of terms... vertical, horizontal, crossbar, swash, serif, sans serif, spur and occasionally ascender and descender. I've never known a sign painter who referred to a bowl, stem, counter, shoulder, stem or spine... As a type designer I'd prefer to concentrate of the letter forms rather than having socially acceptable names for their parts... Leave anatomy to the medical profession... This is a ridiculous name for the sake of having a “justifiable” typographic identifier for a stencil letter…

The term “bridge” has lasted for decades, and it sums up concisely the gap between stencil breaks just fine. Another term is “gutter”. In truth, must we have every single component of type defined so meticulously to the point of ad nauseum?

This is just a quirk of [originally] metal type designers… Sign painters have a more simplified group of terms… vertical, horizontal, crossbar, swash, serif, sans serif, spur and occasionally ascender and descender.

I’ve never known a sign painter who referred to a bowl, stem, counter, shoulder, stem or spine…

As a type designer I’d prefer to concentrate of the letter forms rather than having socially acceptable names for their parts…

Leave anatomy to the medical profession…

]]> By: johno http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/comment-page-1/#comment-412 johno Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:39:45 +0000 http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/#comment-412 Thanks for the link. I think I've heard this called a 'bridge' before, though I don't recall where (I could have dreamed it, I guess). I wonder if these 'gaps' can't simply be viewed as extensions to counters...? Thanks for the link. I think I’ve heard this called a ‘bridge’ before, though I don’t recall where (I could have dreamed it, I guess). I wonder if these ‘gaps’ can’t simply be viewed as extensions to counters…?

]]> By: Adam http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Adam Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:40:10 +0000 http://www.typeforyou.org/2007/11/25/what-is-a-pylon/#comment-400 I've heard several different stencil artists refer to what they have coined a 'pylon' as a 'bridge', ie. a structure built to span an obstacle. I think I prefer bridge to pylon to be honest... I’ve heard several different stencil artists refer to what they have coined a ‘pylon’ as a ‘bridge’, ie. a structure built to span an obstacle. I think I prefer bridge to pylon to be honest…

]]>