Typophile

In Search Of: Term for "Anti-Stencil"

Hrant H Papazian

Thanks to the "Typophile Merchandise?" thread* I've realized that letterforms that have no fully-enclosed counters can be useful (for ease of manufacturing certain things). They're like the inverse of stencil letterforms. Kind of like some of the letters here: http://typophile.com/node/76578

* http://typophile.com/node/101919

What to call that?

hhp

I’d go with senza contatori…

Mono-something something. Something like monolithic, emphasizing "out of a single block".
A few random tries: "Monogram" (nah), "Monotone" (nope). "Monotype", is that taken? :)

How about "Monograph"?

(Edit) "Monobody", maybe.

Monotan? :-)

hhp

Mono-a-mono…

couterless

Counter-counter could be anti-counter.
Fret-friendly
Ajar counter
Agoraphiliac
Unit Construction

Dis-counted? Nah... gotta be something with five different incomprehensible etymologies... Lidded? Might do.

Nice stuff, guys.

But wait, isn't there a nice topological term already?

hhp

Closin' counters :-)

But wait, isn't there a nice topological term already?

That would be simply connected

I'd lean to 'counterless', since that describes the phenomenon relative to standard typographic terminology for the thing that is not present.

But a "counter" doesn't have to be closed... For example a "c" is fine as-is.

Hey, what about "silhouette"?

hhp

Silhouette describes countered text too though.

It strikes me that the linked sample would actually be more balanced and less distracting if just the counters remained (maybe slightly emphasised).

Tim

What about "filled", "boundless" or, if you wish, "unpierced"? Even "blind" might do well.

To get really nerdy, "1-connected topology"

But I like "filled."

Craig, indeed sometimes the most boring thing makes the most sense.

hhp

+1

I think of it as filled too.

And when using my design software the term Fill is one of the most common actions/noun that there is.

n.

However, that name is already taken—there are some two-font typefaces designed for two-color setting, where one of the fonts is called Fill, e.g. Rosewood.

Solid?
Holeless?

Hmmm, I guess you're right about "fill"...

And I think "solid" actually contrasts nicely with "stencil".

hhp

Unencountered

The term solid is already used in contrast to stencil or open/outline cuts in some typefaces, e.g., Oxide Solid, Bokka and Mona Lisa.

Holeless?

In that same vein, why not “Unholy”…

Closed encounters [of the 1st kind]

I wonder...
http://instagram.com/p/a8jjyMhgAt/#
(Thanks to James Grieshaber.)

And a related gem:
https://twitter.com/hhpapazian/status/341622778270728192/photo/1
(Right down the street from me.)

hhp

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