An ambigram is a word design that can be read from different angles, often created using calligraphy or art software. It must be stylized to be considered an ambigram, with looping characters or altered shapes. There are different types, including rotational, palindrome, and perceptual shift. Ambigrams are popular for logos and tattoos.
An ambigram is a drawing of words that, when viewed from a different angle, is still intelligible as the same word or as a new word. While it is possible to create one through calligraphy, most are typographic. This means using a word processor or art software to create the word on a computer. Ambigrams make for popular logos and are often used as tattoos.
To be an ambigram, the word design must be stylized. This means incorporating some sort of calligraphic or artistic style into the word. This can involve looping characters or altering the shapes of letters so that they are understood in one direction, but form different letters when flipped left-to-right or upside down. If there is no style in the presentation then it is not an ambigram.
There are several types of ambigram. One of the most popular or recognized is the rotational ambigram found on websites and charts. Rotational is a form of graphic design, where the word design rotates after a set number of seconds. The word is usually stylized to read the same in both directions. The word “ambigram” itself is often used as an example of this type of word design, as the “a” and “m” at the beginning and end can be stylized to appear to swap places as the word rotates.
A change on the rotation changes the actual word. This often works best if the two words formed in rotation are opposite of each other like “angel” and “devil.” Such rotations can physically rotate through the graphic design or be presented without motion, but if the image were rotated, the new word would form.
The third type is the palindrome ambigram. This has also been called a “palindrogram” by some. Rather than rotating on one point on the axis or being upside down, the palindrogram flips from left to right, either by changing the image on a computer or by using a mirror. As with all other palindromes, such as “One Man, One Plan, One Canal, Panama,” all palindromes read the same duplex as duplex. The stylization must be present with the palindrome or it will be just a regular palindrome.
Another alternative is the perceptual shift ambigram. This type of word design requires no mirrors or rotation. Instead, as with an optical illusion, the viewer is required to shift his or her perception of the word or words so that they take on another form. For example, the word “magic” could be spelled so that with a slight change in perception it would turn into “illusion!” or even “musical”.
The ambigram has become a popular area of graphic design. There are websites and publications dedicated to them and a number of competitions. These competitions tend to be focused on particular themes or challenges such as palindrograms. The ambigram logo is also a popular style for word tattoos alongside Chinese characters, Arabic and Hebrew scripts.
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