NLQ grid

Because the NLQ characters can use as many as 18 dots vertically and 12 dots horizontally, you plan your designs on a different grid than the one for draft characters.

Figure 7-6.Grid for NLQ characters

On this grid you can use any numbered line or space. As you can see, that includes the bottom line and the line on the right side. You should remember to leave one or two columns blank for space between characters, however.

Each NLQ character definition requires 36 data numbers. There- fore, each vertical column must be divided into three sections for the calculation of data numbers. The process is not difficult once you get some practice using it.

Figure 7-7 shows a single column to make clear how the data numbers are calculated. Notice that using circles instead of dots in designing NLQ characters makes it easier to keep track of overlapping dots.

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