Lines in Circular Gallifreyan

Consonants like T, V, W, and S have lines extending from them. Understanding how these lines work—and how this site handles them—will help you create cleaner, more readable designs.

How Lines Work

According to the official guide, lines are intentionally very flexible:

1. Only endpoints count - If a line crosses a letter, it's ignored. Only where the line ends matters.
2. Lines can connect between letters - Even between different words in a sentence. The lines count for both sides of the connection.
3. Multiple-line letters can connect to multiple places - Lines from a letter can go in different directions
4. Many valid ways exist - The same word can be written with completely different line placements.

This flexibility is intentional: it allows artistic expression and personal style.

How This Site Handles Lines

Because there are so many valid ways to draw lines, this site uses an algorithm to automatically place them for you. The algorithm follows a priority system:

1. Tier 1: Connect lines to letters in the same word
2. Tier 2: Connect lines across words
3. Tier 3: Connect lines to sentence circle
4. Tier 4: Connect lines to word circe

The goal is to keep lines simple and uncluttered while maintaining readability.

Line Alignment

You can influence how the algorithm places lines using the Alignment control. This gives the algorithm a "hint" about your aesthetic preference:

• Right (default): Lines prefer ending to the right of their letter
• Center: Lines aim for the middle
• Left: Lines prefer ending on the left side

Important: Alignment is a preference, not a guarantee. The algorithm will still prioritize readable connections, but it will try to match your aesthetic choice when possible.

When Alignment Makes a Difference

Some words show clear visual differences with different alignments. Others look similar regardless of the setting—it depends on the word structure and line complexity.

Key Takeaways

• Lines are flexible - Circular Gallifreyan allows many valid ways to draw the same word
• This site automates placement - An algorithm handles line connections for you
• Alignment is aesthetic - Use it to experiment with different visual styles
• Not all words differ dramatically - The algorithm tries to find good placements regardless of alignment
• Experimentation is encouraged - Try different alignments to see what looks best for your design

Practice

Experiment with Alignment

Try typing different words and changing the alignment to see how it affects the design. Words with multiple lines (like "SWEET" or "WEST") often show the clearest differences.

Want more practice? Check out the Practice section for additional exercises.

What's Next

Now that you understand how lines work and how to control their placement, you're ready to learn how to handle double letters - when the same letter appears twice in a row.