Suppose you want to print the scientific symbol for the planet Mercury Although the FX has a number of special symbols, that is not one of them. First, use a grid like the one below to plan where to place the dots.

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Because the last two columns are reserved for the space between characters, they are not included in the grid. And since most characters do not use the bottom two rows, there is a heavy line to indicate the usual lower limit for an FX character.

When you place your dots on this grid, remember that dots cannot go on horizontal lines, but they can go on vertical lines. If they overlap other dots, they will not be printed in draft, only in NLQ. As you design your characters, draw the dots as large as the circles you see in the example below. (The printer prints dots, but it is best to use circles when planning your characters.)

Using Software and Graphics

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