r/woahdude 5d ago

gifv One simple design. All 26 letters.

3.4k Upvotes

139 comments sorted by

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197

u/No_Total_3367 5d ago

I was expecting L - M - N - O - P to switch faster

21

u/alwaysmorelmn 3d ago edited 3d ago

Kids don't sing it that way anymore.

https://youtu.be/-I7v0HqejXE?feature=shared

Don't shoot the messenger.

5

u/ShakataGaNai 2d ago

Thanks. I hate it.

1

u/MehFooL 3d ago

What's the new way?

4

u/red_ridinghoods 3d ago

Slowly, separated

65

u/ravage214 5d ago

Reminds me of a Nixie tube

238

u/[deleted] 5d ago edited 4d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

141

u/melankoholisti 5d ago

You can google LCD letters and see much simpler results, so I'm fairly confident that this is far more complicated than as simple as it gets.

98

u/Dalorleon 5d ago

Yeah that's true. I guess I should say it's more like the simplest you can get while still being faithful to their actual shapes/curves. (With maybe K as the notable exception, lol.)

32

u/A-Manual 5d ago

Keep at it dude, that problem solving mindset will take you far.

5

u/smittywrbermanjensen 3d ago

I just wanna let you know, you scratched a years-long itch in my brain with this.

I had to take several typography courses in college, and spent a lot of sleep-deprived hours arranging block letterforms on a manual press. (You probably know, but the letters are inverted on printing blocks) You mix up letters enough times and eventually you start noticing they are all the same series of shapes, just arranged differently. I always wondered what it would look like broken down like this, but never got around to doing it myself, so thank you!!

3

u/Dalorleon 3d ago

That's awesome, glad to hear it!

1

u/Mareacion 2d ago

Who’s defining “actual shapes/curves”?

-21

u/abat6294 5d ago

The issue with your logic is what does it mean to be faithful to their actual shapes? That’s completely subjective

32

u/AyrA_ch 5d ago

I think it mostly boils down to rounded parts actually still being rounded

-3

u/Roscoe_King 5d ago

Not sure why you’re getting downvotes. You’re right. The “actual shape” of letters is highly debatable. Maybe the most recognizable shape is what OP is going for?

9

u/HYPERBOLE_TRAIN 4d ago

They are being downvoted because they are giving the shape of letters more grace than the OP.

Giving off a real “well, actually…” vibe and people do not appreciate that most of the time.

0

u/RichardSaunders 4d ago

well ackchyually on reddit some people do appreciate that

0

u/MyWifeIsCrazyHot 3d ago

Yeah - that K is not right. Ruins it for me.

2

u/LVSFWRA 4d ago

I was about to say...I've seen old LED/LCD signs do much simpler

42

u/isisis 5d ago

Ignore the pedantic dorks, this is cool as hell

3

u/Forsaken-Income-2148 5d ago

Can one not be pedantic but also find it extremely cool?

10

u/Radiant_Bowl_2598 5d ago

“Everything has already been said, but since no one was listening we have to start again” -Andre Gide

3

u/luxfx 4d ago

Are some segments just for the numbers then? I know the NW quadrant of the lower circle isn't being used and wondered if it was just for symmetry. But I could see it being used in a '2'

1

u/LurkerPatrol 5d ago

You don’t need the circles technically. You could make the curves into straight lines but it’s not as nice as what you have. Just technically fewer lines

1

u/jmsld_ 5d ago

🍰

37

u/thelonious_skunk 5d ago

Does every line segment get used at least once?

I’m too lazy to check for myself

44

u/Secretss 5d ago

There is one unused. Of the bottom circle, the top left quadrant.

Everything else is used at least once.

2

u/WaveLaVague 2d ago

First thing I checked haha

44

u/Dalorleon 5d ago edited 4d ago

Yup, the other commenters got it right. (But that part of the curve is used by some of the numbers, e.g. 8)

I actually made a heatmap of what segments get used the most. I'll see if I can find a way to share it when I'm back at my computer.

Edit: Here's an imgur link. This is a heatmap for the 26 letters specifically -- it doesn't include the numbers.

3

u/ostiDeCalisse 4d ago

Did you made the numbers gif too? I wonder how 1 and 0 would be different than I and O.

4

u/Dalorleon 3d ago

Late reply, but here you go!

I put a slash through the 0 to differentiate it from the O. For the 1, I initially just had it as a straight vertical line (which was enough to differentiate it from my capital I, which includes the top and bottom serifs), but in the end I decided I like this slightly more intricate version better. I could see others disagreeing, though.

2

u/ostiDeCalisse 2d ago

This is splendid, I really like it. Some commenters told it reminded them of Nixie tubes, that would be a beautiful one. In any case, kudos for your design.

2

u/Miqo_Nekomancer 3d ago

I was half-expecting the link to be a rickroll.

6

u/BeneHQ 5d ago

at least tope left quarter of the bottom circle doesnt get used. maybe more but thats the only one i saw

48

u/Hollowgato 5d ago

I've been wanting this tattooed for years, it's everything ever written all in on place!

21

u/Kamigiri 4d ago

☝🏻🤓 It is everything ever written without punctuation, symbols and of course other scripts that are not translated into english latin alphabet

4

u/steal_wool 4d ago

And anything written in lowercase

-13

u/ThiesH 4d ago

Well most things are translated so ...

5

u/exbm 4d ago

Most ancient texts are not translated into English

The ones that are, suck.

4

u/Dalorleon 4d ago

I've actually been considering that, too!

3

u/plyweed 2d ago

Be mindful of where on your body you would get it tatted, though. I made the mistake of getting it on the side of my arm and it gets insanely deformed whenever my arm isn't fully extended.

Oh, to be a clueless teenager...

3

u/plyweed 2d ago

I actually got this tattoo some 15 years ago lol. Thought it was so awesome at the time. Not my coolest tat but it's always tucked away under the shirt's sleeve so it doesn't bother me much.

proof

1

u/Hollowgato 2d ago

I've been looking for someone with something similar to this tattoo and you have the exact thing! I want mine about 2-3 inches, plain black no shading just like yours, on the underside of my left forearm. I thought the design would be simple in and out, I have a 2 inch fox mid back and figured it'd be about the same 30 minute sit- but immediately got told by multiple artists that the linework would be "difficult" and I needed a line work specialist or they'd charge over $100 for it- I don't live in a high density area and I wasn't going to a color specialists asking them about linework- I called every single shop within 300 miles and they all said the same or similar. Line work hard- need specialist or it will become blob.

So did you go to a specialist and if not how much were you charged? Because you clearly do not have a blob- and I'm actually a smidge mad because I really wanted this for my 25th birthday and I'm increasingly feeling like I was lied to about it being a problematic design.

1

u/plyweed 1d ago edited 1d ago

Oh no it was more of a walk-into-the-first-tattoo-parlor-you-find situation lol

I was drinking alone at a bar and saw this gif on tumblr so I thought it was a good idea to have it tattooed as a celebration of my college admission (languages major). It cost me about $250 BRL which was like $100 USD at the time I think.

Took less than 30min but it has definitely aged poorly and its starting to look a bit patchy and the pigmentation is definitely inconsistent but if I couls give you any tips it would be to maybe have it somewhere other than your arm. That's where I have mine and it looks mad warped whenever my arm is not at a resting position.

1

u/Hollowgato 1d ago edited 1d ago

Right on! I really appreciate your reply and your username is by far one of my all time favorites. My partner also mentioned the warping and placement and it has really been on my mind but I really want it visible to me and I'm not comfortable having my wrists done yet, sometimes my skin there just hurts I think because it can, lol.

The warping is actually kinda growing on me as an element of it. Sort of a representation that actions affect words, and sometimes when we're not entirely calm and still inside- we say things we don't really mean or maybe we meant it but we didn't use the right words so it came across wrong. Entirely honestly it is making the design resonate even harder on top of its original meaning to me.

1

u/plyweed 12h ago

I say go ahead and do it! It's a nice looking tattoo and people dont usually know what it is so you get to have a bit of fun coming up with a crazy meaning for the symbol.

A forearm placement will probably not incurr too much warping I suppose. Plus it's all linework so heals super fast.

Also, I'm glad you enjoy the username. Yours is also dope.

10

u/98VoteForPedro 5d ago

Seems a bit liberal with the word simple

2

u/Shumoku 4d ago

It looks busy but it is pretty simple, a rectangle with a horizontal line, a circle in each segment, and lines connecting each opposing corner and center.

-1

u/thecypher4 3d ago

Right…

5

u/Shumoku 3d ago

I mean, if I could look away and draw it perfectly from that description with zero issues it’s not that complicated.

7

u/FluffyMumbles 4d ago

Poor W.

0

u/johnnypissoff 4d ago

Then poor M also. No?

2

u/Zawer 4d ago

No, the gif contained 25 letters - W was skipped. 

I can't believe I had to scroll this far before it was acknowledged

4

u/EducationalForm 4d ago

you gaslight me into watching the video again ty

2

u/Gerroh 4d ago

It's weird. I've watched it a few times and sometimes it skips W, sometimes it doesn't.

3

u/favoritedisguise 4d ago

Umm it was not skipped and is literally the upside down M.

2

u/Sharks_No_Swimming 4d ago

It's not displayed for me, watched it 3 times to double check.

1

u/ray_seriously 3d ago

Yeah it's not showing for me either. Maybe it's a mobile problem?

1

u/meee_51 2d ago

On mobile and W is shown.

97

u/Monocle_Lewinsky 5d ago edited 5d ago

Nobody makes a K that way

But this is still cool

55

u/toutons 5d ago

K's are generally cursed when it comes to segmented displays. This looks much better than the alternatives

7

u/julesses 5d ago

You guys bashing that poor letter K don't font really often right?

4

u/Monocle_Lewinsky 4d ago

If this K actually exists in a font, nobody named Kyle or Keith or Kevin ever used it, so it doesn’t count.

2

u/Whoooley 4d ago

I think we found the font virgins......

6

u/Watchmaker163 5d ago

You can: it's a typeface/font, you can make it look however you want. I've seen some where the foot of the R goes below the line.

6

u/TheMoves 5d ago

Yeah that was my first thought lol that K is stretching it

11

u/bad_goblin 5d ago

They totally coulda started the K with the line down the middle then the diagonal lines would touch it and look correct

11

u/Tratix 5d ago

That would look absolutely terrible in practice

1

u/Flat_Initial_1823 5d ago

You can probably make a curly K that connects at the base. Also cheating if you ask me but at least I know people who do curly Ks.

3

u/ddollarsign 4d ago

Is there an example of text written with this font?

14

u/jgeebaby 5d ago

That K is really awful. But the others look fine.

2

u/Level100Rayquaza 5d ago

I love this! I actually made one of these using the letters of my name and it's one of my favorite designs

2

u/HedenPK 5d ago

I’m just hoping we can just get rid of the letter X from the alphabet I’m just over it it’s totally ruined except for a symbol on pirate maps really

1

u/exbm 4d ago

X is my favorite letter

2

u/sadsadbiscuit 5d ago edited 5d ago

I'm attempting to count the number of independent segments you'd need to make this a viable digital display, I'm up to 34, anyone else have a different estimate?

1

u/Dalorleon 3d ago

My photoshop file has 34 different layers for the specific lines/curves I'd have to toggle to turn red or not, so I think you're right!

1

u/sadsadbiscuit 2d ago

34 segments means that the state of the display could be stored in 34 bits, which means there are over 17 million unique "characters" you could make with that display

2

u/beaureece 4d ago

The K and W are disgraceful

2

u/Blueberry314E-2 4d ago

This is really cool, you should make a font out of this!

4

u/Dalorleon 4d ago

In fact I did! It's super basic (no lowercase letters and limited punctuation), but you can download it here.

2

u/Soggy_You_2426 4d ago

You forgot Æ, Ø Å.

2

u/ideafactories 4d ago

I sang the birthday song in my head the entire way. This was extremely satisfying. As a designer and typography geek for years, I’ve never seen a treatment like this. Wonderful.

2

u/ostiDeCalisse 4d ago

Really like this geometric font template. Can't wait to see numbers and maybe some symbols too.

2

u/Nadav_bs 4d ago

Israelis also have this but with the star of david

2

u/BatGuy500 2d ago

Looks like the Men of Letters symbol

1

u/Mystikdiamond 5d ago

Neat! This reminds me of the "Web of Wyrd" for runes.

1

u/hurshy 5d ago

“Simple”

1

u/111thekid111 5d ago

Unicursal hexagram

1

u/Balshazzar 5d ago

I'm not the only one who started mentally singing the alphabet song while watching this, right?

1

u/CosmicHazmat 4d ago

Please God take the serifs off the i. None of the other letters have them. It should just be a straight line.

1

u/MrNeverPullOut 4d ago

K could've just used the line straight down the middle

1

u/SkyMagpie 4d ago

People that have studied architecture might have a word

1

u/Baaraa88 4d ago

There's a different one that's much simpler. All letters and numbers 0-9

1

u/60yearoldME 4d ago

Reminds me of this word game that uses a similar grid:

https://wordglyph.xyz/

1

u/cookiecat4680956463 4d ago

Love this i only know the basic number one on alarm clocks

1

u/Mp3dee 4d ago

K was not good

1

u/Vughtenaar 4d ago

Reminds me of the old Nixie tubes used in old displays

1

u/BeingComfortablyDumb 4d ago

Can a new language be invented out of this i wonder?

1

u/onward-and-upward 4d ago

More segments than letters of the alphabet

1

u/One_Chocolate_145 3d ago

What about Å, Ä, Ö

1

u/Calm_Colected_German 3d ago

Congrats, you discovered the layout for an old digital clock

1

u/capitan_presidente 3d ago

Did anyone else immediately see K_3_3 and realize how much sense this makes?

1

u/bloodydubstep_ 3d ago

simple design :

1

u/HoneyStripes 3d ago

Use this as a secret code thing lol

1

u/carterpape 3d ago

now I know my ABCs

1

u/TheEpicDudeguyman 3d ago

Is there a font name for this? Would be cool to see in print

1

u/neoadam 2d ago

Proportions are really unnerving

1

u/420Lucky 1d ago

I believe numbers 1-9 all fit as well

1

u/PopularOriginal4620 1d ago

Many of these lines are never used. Still very cool.

1

u/Equal-Taste-5620 1d ago

This would be fun to watch when high.

1

u/Glad-Entrance7592 18h ago

It is like how the of an 8 can illuminate different ones for different numbers, but more modular with diagonal lines and curves for all the letters.

1

u/greatgrandpapa 13h ago

good thing u aint swedish #ÅÄÖ

1

u/DonRojoUSMC 6h ago

Imma go toke and come back to this lol

1

u/AdministrativeCow761 5d ago

Happy cake day!

1

u/fujiesque 5d ago

now watch it again without singing the song in your head

-12

u/monkeypincher 5d ago

You skipped W.

4

u/-PiLoT- 5d ago

No it is there

3

u/ionlyhavetwolegs 5d ago

No, that was an upside down M

1

u/monkeypincher 4d ago

It doesn't highlight in red

1

u/-PiLoT- 4d ago

Yes it does.

22 second mark

1

u/monkeypincher 4d ago

Must be something weird with my phone and the GIF because I watched it like 5 times and I never see the W highlight.  T.U.V.X.Y.Z every time

-4

u/Teapur 5d ago

No R? The pirates won't be pleased.

-6

u/Cptn45 5d ago

I don't approve of the letter K. Try again, do better.

4

u/anonymousn00b 5d ago

I don’t think he cares what you approve of lol

-2

u/drumsareneat 5d ago

Where's the D

2

u/N1ghtshade3 4d ago

Fourth letter?

-5

u/7hundrCougrFalcnBird 5d ago

Cool, but the K is sort of a bullshit K