How to translate “Anstrich” in draw/wrinting context into English?

Question

The word "Anstrich" is used in different contexts. Here I'm refering to a stroke beginning the sketch of a character. This stroke is not part of the character but often used when it comes to handwriting. What word is used express "Anstrich" in that context?

Note As mentioned by splattne: without context the most common meaning of the word is "paint/paintwork/coat of paint" (noun).

Answer 1

I would go with "upstroke". But use the terms with some caution: A quick Google search shows that this term is indeed used, but that some writers feel the need to specify that it's not any kind of stroke heading upwards, but indeed the stroke at the very beginning of a word or letter. Some examples:

• A tutorial on cursive handwriting writes: "[...] Letters that start with an upstroke [...]"
• A discussion about the usefulness of cursivewrites: "[...] the letter a has an upstroke before the body of the letter [...]"

Others again simply write "upstroke" without feeling the need to specify that it is actually the "Anstrich" which is being referred to.

Edit: "Upstroke" and "downstroke" have other related meanings as well; it is used in conducting, guitar playing and painting as well.

Answer 2

I think

upstroke

is the right word in this context. Dictionary: here.

In this glossary page there's this definition of Aufstrich (= Anstrich):

Beim Schreibvorgang eine nach oben gezogene Linie eines Buchstabens.

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Note: without context the most common meaning of the word is "paint/paintwork/coat of paint" (noun).