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Axis (in type design)

In type design, the axis usually refers to the direction of the stroke in a letterform, often taking inspiration from (or making direct reference to) how letterforms might appear if drawn with a pen. Letterforms with slanted axes are informed by writing with a broad-nibbed pen (translation), while letterforms with vertical axes are informed by writing with a pointed pen (expansion). This is the basis of Gerrit Noordzij’s theory and eponymous cube.

A lowercase o from three different typefaces, with the axis line overlaid. The line’s angle is slightly different in each example.

It’s possible to infer the axis (or axes) in a typeface’s design by the contrast of the thick and thin parts of a stroke; therefore, low-contrast typefaces (i.e., most sans serifs) don’t necessarily have a visible axis.

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Axis (in type design) – Fonts Knowledge - Google Fonts