{"id":70093,"date":"2023-12-21T17:40:18","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T16:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grapheine.com\/?p=70093"},"modified":"2023-12-21T17:40:18","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T16:40:18","slug":"ambigrams-graphic-symmetry-and-word-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grapheine.com\/en\/graphic-design-en\/ambigrams-graphic-symmetry-and-word-reflections","title":{"rendered":"The smart set of ambigrams, graphic symmetry and word reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"
What is the connection between day and night, GOD and NOTHING, angels & demons? Apart from their seemingly opposite meanings, they are also ambigrams: words that can be read symmetrically.<\/strong> Stay tuned, we'll explain everything.<\/p>\n In this article, we'll explain:<\/p>\n Ambigrams are visual puns in which the letters are written in such a way that they can be read through one or more axes of symmetry.<\/strong> Either the word is an ambigram as it is, like the words CODE (horizontal symmetry) or inoui (rotational axis), which could be called \"natural\" ambigrams, or, and this is what interests us most, it is created from scratch thanks to the talent of a calligrapher who plays with the letters as symbols of written language.<\/p>\n The term \"ambigram\" comes from the Latin prefix \"ambi<\/em>\" (both) and the Greek suffix \"gram<\/em>\" (written). This dual writing can actually be triple or more depending on the graphic talents of the artist; it can be read through horizontal, vertical, or rotational symmetry, offering an original and ambiguous reading experience depending on perspective.<\/p>\n Some ambigrams mean the same thing when inverted (homograms), such as \"inoui\", \"nu\" or \"SOS\" (which is also an ambigram in Morse code ... - - - - ...), while others change meaning and are transformed into a new word (heterograms). In Paris, for example, passengers at the Gare du Nord can read \"entr\u00e9e\" or \"sortie\" depending on their direction of travel, thanks to the heterogram created by artist Patrice Hamel in a single inscription (below). The letters, skilfully manipulated, offer two readings from a single word: here, o becomes \u00e9, s an e, nt a ti...<\/p>\n To add another layer, hold on tight: homograms can also be palindromes (often confused with them), meaning they are symmetrical and readable from left to right and right to left while retaining their meaning. Some ambigrams are also readable in a mirror (mirror writing<\/a>).<\/p>\n The variations in symmetry allow calligraphers, graphic designers, and artists to play with the shapes and meanings of words, creating visually intriguing works<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The interest in creating an ambigram indeed comes from the graphic challenge it presents. To create one, you need to consider not only symmetry but also the shape of the letters and the readability of the word in its different orientations. Ambigrams can be constructed with symmetrical letters, relying solely on the options offered by uppercase or lowercase letters, or by playing with the variations offered by typographic families.<\/p>\n B, C, D, E, H, I, K, O, and X are, for example, naturally symmetrical<\/strong> as they are, and b\/q, d\/p, m\/w, n\/u, h\/y, and a\/e become symmetrical by rotation. French words like COCHE, CODE, DECEDE, DECIDE, CE CHOIX can be read through horizontal symmetry or reflected in a lake. AnIME or MAXIMUM can be read vertically, and \"antoine,\" \"un,\" or \"nounou\" are rotational ambigrams that can be read without changing direction after rotation.<\/p>\n The longest known ambigram, \"suissesse,\" becomes \"assassins\" with a good choice of typography (here, the Co Headline<\/a>) where \"e\" and \"a\" resemble each other, and after removing the dots on the \"i.\"<\/p>\n People who create ambigrams often prefer the flexibility of calligraphy, which allows the creation of free forms. Ambigrams allow playing with shapes, colors, and textures, offering a new dimension to writing that can be read as if \"in motion,\"<\/strong> in one direction or another. Ambigrams can be used to convey hidden messages or create optical illusions.<\/p>\n Ambigrams are found in different languages and cultures, including Arabic calligraphy, as seen in this example dating back to 1720.<\/p>\n On his YouTube page @The Ambigram Artist<\/a>, Mark Palmer, for example, shares his calligraphy specialized in this art, skillfully combining two words or names to create one. He is credited with ambigrams like family\/forever, Disney\/Magic, and The Batman\/Vengeance<\/strong>. Ligatures and ornaments help emphasize certain letters and promote a sense of reading. If the drawings are done correctly, and that's the challenge, our brains decipher the graphemes<\/a> and then make sense of them.<\/p>\n It's quite fascinating to watch him draw the letters, anticipating the rotation and, therefore, the double reading as if he were writing both right-side up and upside down, thanks to ligature or ornamentation tricks:<\/p>\nAmbigram day\/night<\/em> by Jo\u00ebl Guenoun<\/span><\/p>\n
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Words with various shapes and meanings<\/h2>\n
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How to create ambigrams<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Wordplay for graphic designers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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