Encountering this again. I’ve set this property:
But it works only for upstem notes, not downstem:
Is there a setting I’m missing? Is there a way to force this?
EDIT: “Lengthen stem” doesn’t work either.
EDIT 2: Is there… really no glyph in Bravura for “Combining short flag below”??
The stem for downstem notes is on the left side, therefore the flag doesn’t collide with the dot. Therefore there is no need shorten the flag?
Yes: only upstem notes have the flag and dot on the same side of the notehead.
Downstem notes have the flag within the notehead, while the dot is to the side, so there’s no collision.
Thanks. I understand that, but it’s a visual consistency thing for me. I guess I’ll need to modify the font.
I figured it out, with this result:
I know this is very subjective, but I’m curious to get opinions on this look. The shorter flags match older hymnal engraving of the late 19th and earth 20th centuries. But if it’s jarring to everyone who notices this sort of thing, I might abandon it.
PS: and it’s all syllabic beaming, so there will be a lot of flags…
There’s clearly enough room to have the dots to the side of the flag, so you don’t need the short flags for economy of space.
I do find them needlessly jarring.
There’s plenty of elderly engraving practices that don’t need to be followed, IMO.
I wouldn’t. There’s plenty of room to put the dot to the side.
I don’t mind the short flags, but perhaps that’s from growing up with some older hymnals. I don’t think they affect legibility negatively; they do make make the page seem a little lighter. The syllabic beaming bothers me more (though that’s probably because I spend more time with instrumental music than vocal).
I can’t stand syllabic beaming but this is a scholarly edition, so… ad fontes.
Very interesting discussion. I agree with @benwiggy that it isn’t necessary. However, I do see a sense of symmetry with the shorter flags. Having that many independent notes with flags, there is a more symmetrical look to my eye.
I recently bought some of the MTF fonts (well, bought more fonts, I already had some) from Notation Central. I have been amazed at what some of them do to the music output. I am seeing a more historic look to scores of mine, as in I can see where the computer has really influenced engraving for the last 40-50 years. Really got me thinking about engravers from yesteryear. And how so many details, such as shorter flags, were part of someone’s decision making process.
Thanks for giving me something interesting to ponder. 
Robby
Thanks for weighing in. I’m still considering the shorter flags. It does feel more like the 18th-century scores I’m replicating.
I think there are even some fonts which only have short flags.
Curious which particular fonts you liked for the “historical” look.
For me, I am finding the MTF Gutenberg 1939 to have a very historical look. There are some very interesting design choices, such as short flags.
And by historical, I mean that it reminds me of hand engraved music from the late 1800s to mid-1900s. a better term might be a “period” look. 30-ish years ago when I was in school, I played from sheet music that in some cases was “old” to me, it was pieces written/arranged/engraved in the early part of the century (1930-1940 period).
I am also finding the MTS Ross font to have a nice look as well, and the Vintage BH font by NorFonts.
Here are examples from the MTF Gutenberg 1939:
Robby
