I’ve been intrigued by ambigrams, a type of typographical riddle, ever since I read Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons in the early 2000s. After doing some reading on the subject, I learned that there are numerous variations of ambigrams. However, rotational ambigrams, my personal favorite and the centerpiece of Dan Brown’s book will be the topic of this article. Check out www.ambigramania.com to know more
It is possible to read a word in a rotational ambigram whether the image is right side up or upside down. When flipped, “iPod!” and “swims” have identical meanings.
What if, you want an ambigram of your name or any other word, and only a few others work except these two? This guide will explain my process of making ambigrams, using the word “dream” as an example.
1. try to spell the word in every combination.
We must first identify a shared linguistic feature between the two words to create an ambigram. The quickest approach to achieve that is first to write down the word in vertical and horizontal formats, using as many different fonts as possible. Using various fonts and case sizes will help you discover new and exciting lettering options. The use of cursive writing is frequently disregarded. This gives us the following as an example:
2. Use an online ambigram generator for some ideas.
Now that we’ve completed step 1, we can examine the letters for recurring themes. Is there a method to make a D look like an M or an R like an A? At this stage, I look up the word in our online ambigram generator to see if it suggests anything interesting. You can check out AmbimaticHD and Ambinit’s recommendations down below.
3. Try out different alphabetic permutations
The letter ‘e’ is done well enough for me, but the rest of the alphabet leaves much to be desired. The initial letter of the ambient version is something we can use, but instead of just placing the letter ”d into them,’ why not move the ‘d’ to the first leg of them and include the ‘r’ into the third leg? So we go back to the drawing board and begin our experiments.
4. Fill in the blank and use the appropriate tone
We discovered that the letters ‘dr’ can be reversed to form other solutions. We can now select the option that most closely resembles our desired theme. Take care, as your choice here will determine the overall aesthetic of the ambigram.
Finding a workable answer for the final two letters is the next stage. Happily, when switched, the letters ‘e’ and ‘a’ seem almost identical. The most challenging part will be maintaining the same aesthetic.
5. Put the words together
Even though you undoubtedly already have, let’s try combining the ‘dr/m’ and ‘e/a’ ambigram pairs into the whole word. At this stage, it’s also essential to assess whether or not the final product meets your expectations.
Be consistent with the font size and line spacing at this stage. One method for doing so is to sketch out the word in half and trace it both normal and inverted. As a result, you may rest assured that the finished product will be more symmetrical.
6. (Optional) Vectize the ambigram
That we created an ambigram at all is cause for celebration. If you’re playing about with ambigrams, you can stop at step 5, but if you want to use it as a logo or in some other public context, you’ll need to refine it further.
The most effective method for doing so is to use a vector program, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or even Microsoft PowerPoint, to trace the ambigram. This method will give you much leeway in drawing the lines and curves. The other half of the ambigram can be copied by simply rotating the first half 180 degrees. The first version, along with two revised versions, are presented here. Our comprehensive guide to vectoring is available here.
7. Publish your ambigram and get critiques from others! (Optional)
Share your ambigram with others and solicit their opinions once you have completed either steps 5 or 6. A few tweaks can make a huge difference, and various people will always come up with different interpretations of the same word. Why not take advantage of both opportunities to increase your knowledge? The /r/ambigrams subreddit is one of my favorites, but there are plenty of others to explore!
This is how I create ambigrams, and it usually works out. You’ll need lots of practice, just like any other art form. Start with simple words and look at examples of different ambigrams to see how others have tackled similar challenges.
Read also: The Positive Effects of Doing Word Puzzles on Cognitive Development