Wanna Learn to Graffiti Like a Pro?

My timing here is terrible, considering that Palm is dropping Graffiti from the PalmOS after being sued over a Xerox patent. However, there are zillions of PalmOS devices out there that aren't going away, and people will be using Graffiti for some time to come.

Graffiti differs from handwriting recognition in two important ways. It is not very adaptable to different styles of gestures and as a result forces the user to learn Graffiti’s forms rather than making the computer adapt to the user’s actual handwriting. In addition, Graffiti is not an engine capable of examining word shapes and picking the right characters based on contextual references, as we do with others’ handwriting. Graffiti handles writing just one character at a time.

The trick to successful Graffitiing lies in learning the six basic shapes that can be used to express all the letters. This means abandoning the Graffiti chart provided by Palm and using the so-called alternate shapes almost wherever possible.

Let's start with those shapes themselves.

The first shape is the bar. This is just a straight line.

The second shape is the corner, or V shape.

Next is the O or hoop shape.

Fourth is the S shape or zigzag. It is made by traversing all four corners of the rectangle with two straight paralell strokes connected by a diagonal in between. The S shape starting from the upper right corner, going to the upper left, diagonally down to the lower right and finally to the lower left corner. This shape can be made in rounder gestures, as in the letter S or in angular ones, as in the letter Z. Either way registers the same. Try making a backward Z and you'll end up with an S. A rounded Z or a reflected S will still produce a Z in Graffiti.

Fifth is the E shape, made by connecting two narrow V shapes together in one unbroken stroke.

Last is what I call “the ribbon.” This is the shape used for shortcuts and the traditional form of the Graffiti K. Notice that the K and the shortcut symbol are basically the same shape, but rotated 90° and with the direction reversed.

With these 6 shapes you can make almost all the alphanumeric characters. Some characters require a “tail” (such as the suggested shape for V to distinguish it from a U) and some extended characters get a little more complicated. The association table below is not meant to provide a strict guide to the "best" way to create these letters in Graffiti, but to illustrate the relationship between the common Graffiti shapes and the shapes of the letters we use in English.

A

V shape upside-down, left to right

B

E shape backwards, top to bottom

C

V shape rotated 90°, top to bottom

D

“The Ribbon” starting from the lower right and ending at the lower left

E

E shape (really!)

F

V shape rotated 135°, starting at lower left and ending at upper right. Works in both directions.

G

O shape starting and ending at 3 o'clock, plus a "tail" to the right.

H

S shape starting from upper left, moving down to the lower left, up to the upper right and terminating at the lower right. If that seems complicated, think of how the S and Z are just round and angular (mirrored) versions of one another and make an N shape with the crossbar reversed. See how the H is made by an S turned 90°?

I

Bar, top to bottom

J

V rotated 315°, upper right to lower left.

K

Ribbon shape, upper right to lower right.

L

V rotated 45°, upper right to lower left.

M

E shape, lower left to lower right

N

S shape reversed and rotated (like a Z on its side)

O

O shape starting and ending at 12 o’clock

P

Ribbon shape rotated 4°. Start at bottom center, move up and loop to the right, ending at the left center

Q

O shape starting and ending at 12 o'clock, with a "tail" to the right.

R

Ribbon shape rotated 45°. Start at bottom center, move up and loop to the right, ending at the left center, then with a "tail" to the right, or to the lower right.

S

S shape

T

V rotated 225°, upper left to lower right.

U

Basic V shape, left to right

V

Basic V shape, right to left

W

E shape rotated 270°, upper left to upper right

X

Ribbon shape, upper left to lower left

Y

Ribbon shape, upper left to upper right

Z

S shape mirrored

0

O shape starting and ending at 12 o'clock

1

Basic Bar

2

S shape mirrored. (Make a Z)

3

E shape mirrored. (Make a B)

4

V rotated 45°, upper right to lower left. (Make an L)

5

Basic S shape

6

Ribbon shape, upper left to lower left. (Make an X)

7

V rotated 225°, upper left to lower right. (Make a T)

8

Ribbon shape, upper left to upper right or reverse.

9

Ribbon shape rotated 315°, start at middle right and finish middle bottom after a clockwise loop.