I suppose maybe this refers to the effect examined in the great long Cut and then curved thread from 2008 (the same quotation is referenced there). There's much there on Dwiggins. But if that's the reference, I can see it a bit, like here at the bottom of Prensa's italic /t/

Prensa doesn't have enough Electra in it to be a revival, but it's well-designed and reminiscent enough to warrant having around.

I'm still waiting (no doubt others are, too) for a faithful Electra revival. If we ever get a well-done Fairfield as well, it'll be a watershed moment (for me, anyway.)

I haven't seen the new Parkinson Electra in use, but it looks nice on screen.

Hmm, 'cut and curved'? Why would they term it as "wrapping outside curves around the inside"...

Can't wrap my head around that one

This may shed some light.

I gather Dwiggins arrived at this M-formula by paying special attention to the bits of the letters that get lost at small sizes or at a distance. I'm not sure what printing process he would have been proofing with however.

I can kind of see the idea of wrapping the outside around the inside on the /g/ where the two closed counters seem to take their starting point from the middle counterspace, which is on the outside of the letter.

I think the aspect that Cyrus was responding to, which he characterized as “wrapping outside curves around the inside,” is slightly different than what WAD was expressing with his M-formula memo. (Note: Dwiggins never used this “wrapping” language, not that I recall ever encountering in his letters anyway.)

It’s all generally related, of course, because Dwiggins was a multi-faceted thinker; but what Cyrus calls “tension” I believe Dwiggins would have referred as “snap” or “action.”

The thinking that lead to the M-formula memo only crystallized several years after Electra (and never found successful expression in any of his completed typefaces). I would say the M-formula is a subset of Dwiggins’s broader explorations of Action in type.

I’d have to go back to my files to find his letters discussing Action. I don’t think I have any of them transcribed.

But I’m preparing to travel tomorrow and in the middle of a big project, so I don’t have time to pursue right now. Sorry.

Hmm, 'cut and curved'? Why would they term it as "wrapping outside curves around the inside"...
Can't wrap my head around that one

Maybe because in some cases the "cut" might imply a crossover from inside to outside?

How interesting, I hadn't come across what this M-Formula you guys were referring to, but I found a good write-up and some links here for any people who come across this thread for future reference.

I can kind of see the idea of wrapping the outside around the inside on the /g/ where the two closed counters seem to take their starting point from the middle counterspace, which is on the outside of the letter.

Bendy, could you please clarify what this means? Perhaps kindly with a drawing over this g?

Sorry, I was referring to the one in the M-formula. I'm still completely unable to attach images so I've posted an image over on Flickr of how I see the construction.