cxc visual arts art of lettering. wisdom of the week “art is the signature of civilization.”...

CXC Visual ArtsCXC Visual Arts

Art of LetteringArt of Lettering

Wisdom of the WeekWisdom of the Week

““Art is the signature of Art is the signature of Civilization.”Civilization.”

……Beverly SillsBeverly Sills

ObjectivesObjectives

THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S"HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S"

4 BASICS TO BETTER LETTERING 4 BASICS TO BETTER LETTERING

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERPUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

THE LANGUAGE OF THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S""ABC'S"

The printing press and computer have The printing press and computer have brought us far from the days of stone brought us far from the days of stone and chisel. and chisel.

With thousands of font styles, With thousands of font styles, communication has a plethora of communication has a plethora of selections for effecting its purpose. selections for effecting its purpose.

Lettering has a specific vocabulary and Lettering has a specific vocabulary and the examples below will define them the examples below will define them before proceeding to other aspects of before proceeding to other aspects of Letter Design, Posters and Calligraphy.Letter Design, Posters and Calligraphy.


There are 3 "cases" in lettering: There are 3 "cases" in lettering: UPPERUPPER, , lowerlower and and MixedMixed--demonstrated easily by --demonstrated easily by those very 3 words. those very 3 words.

We usually sign our names in mixed case.We usually sign our names in mixed case. Titles, logos, newspaper headlines, store Titles, logos, newspaper headlines, store

ads, and millions of other printed things ads, and millions of other printed things can be upper or lower case--and mixed too. can be upper or lower case--and mixed too.

Designing and drawing these letters Designing and drawing these letters requires the use of "guidelines" which keep requires the use of "guidelines" which keep letter heights equalized. letter heights equalized.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S""ABC'S" Now "style" is the essence of lettering and gives Now "style" is the essence of lettering and gives

certain character to the words it forms. certain character to the words it forms. We We define 4 types, the first being "Script"--a style define 4 types, the first being "Script"--a style very familiar to "handwriting". It is a "thick and very familiar to "handwriting". It is a "thick and thin" letter form, is usually slanted (italic) and thin" letter form, is usually slanted (italic) and can be anything from very bold to very delicate.can be anything from very bold to very delicate.

The most common style, and most economic is The most common style, and most economic is "Condensed" in which height is greater than "Condensed" in which height is greater than width. This extension of height allows more width. This extension of height allows more letters and therefore words, to fit on an letters and therefore words, to fit on an advertising line.advertising line.

The least used is "Extended", the very opposite The least used is "Extended", the very opposite of condensed. Instead of squeezing the letters of condensed. Instead of squeezing the letters upwards, it stretches and exaggerates them in a upwards, it stretches and exaggerates them in a horizontal spacing. It requires lots of room.horizontal spacing. It requires lots of room.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S""ABC'S" "Unusual" or Trademark lettering is special "Unusual" or Trademark lettering is special

letter forms, logo designs for company identity letter forms, logo designs for company identity and usually copyrighted. and usually copyrighted. Nike, Coca-Cola, Nike, Coca-Cola, SpearmintSpearmint are all recognizable practically the are all recognizable practically the world over. world over.

A designer may create hundreds of ideas until A designer may create hundreds of ideas until that perfect one is approved.that perfect one is approved.

And the last category, "New" is an active state And the last category, "New" is an active state of creating and designing new fonts, headings of creating and designing new fonts, headings or other eye catching words for brochures, or other eye catching words for brochures, logo offerings, or to suit specific the needs of a logo offerings, or to suit specific the needs of a client.client.

All the art elements of balance, texture, line, All the art elements of balance, texture, line, color, pattern, etc. are an important color, pattern, etc. are an important background for these applications.background for these applications.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S""ABC'S" This is a very small sample of the This is a very small sample of the

tremendous number of text style tremendous number of text style

communication formats everywhere.communication formats everywhere.

4 BASICS TO BETTER 4 BASICS TO BETTER LETTERING LETTERING Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLESSTYLES The left sketch shows (a) The left sketch shows (a)

the parts of a letter, and (b) the parts of a letter, and (b) guide lines which control guide lines which control the height and stem the height and stem placements. placements.

The circled areas on the "Y" The circled areas on the "Y" identify one form of a "serif" identify one form of a "serif" which caps the stem ends.which caps the stem ends.

There are 3 different ones in There are 3 different ones in the Roman sample below: the Roman sample below: tapered curve, rectangular, tapered curve, rectangular, and straight line. See them?and straight line. See them?

Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLESSTYLES

Roman style, an Roman style, an unusual "thick and unusual "thick and thin" letter, often thin" letter, often has thickness in has thickness in different stem different stem places. places.

It usually has style It usually has style endings called endings called "serifs" on each "serifs" on each stem end. stem end.


Poster style, bold Poster style, bold or general, is very or general, is very popular and easy popular and easy to read. to read.

It has even It has even thickness in all thickness in all directions and directions and may or may not may or may not have serif have serif endings. endings.


Script is a Script is a "connected" letter "connected" letter style, can be thick style, can be thick and thin or even and thin or even thickness. thickness.

It usually is "italic" It usually is "italic" or slanted. It is a or slanted. It is a very graceful, very graceful, decorative style.decorative style.


Unusual or Unusual or "trademark" text "trademark" text styles are usually styles are usually copyright copyright protected.protected.

They are created They are created for specific for specific company logos. company logos.

Creating these Creating these new font styles new font styles takes lettering to takes lettering to exciting exciting developments. developments.


We began by finding 1 We began by finding 1 example of each style: example of each style: Roman and Poster styles Roman and Poster styles in upper, lower, and in upper, lower, and mixed case; mixed case;

1 Script and Trademark; 1 Script and Trademark; 1 Extended , and if 1 Extended , and if possible, 1 Condensed possible, 1 Condensed form--a very difficult one form--a very difficult one to find today.to find today.

Samples could be Samples could be overlapped and arranged overlapped and arranged in any direction and had in any direction and had to be labeled. to be labeled.

Basic No. 2: KNOWING Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURELETTER STRUCTURE

Learning the basics of letter Learning the basics of letter formation, mechanical formation, mechanical measurements, optical judgment and measurements, optical judgment and new vocabulary are all excellent skills new vocabulary are all excellent skills for students to develop.for students to develop.

It provides a hands-on math and It provides a hands-on math and English language project for students, English language project for students, besides art skills in communication. besides art skills in communication.

Basic No. 2: KNOWING Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURELETTER STRUCTURE We begin with identifying the parts of a letter as We begin with identifying the parts of a letter as

diagramed in the left sketch. diagramed in the left sketch. Lined computer paper is very helpful in planning Lined computer paper is very helpful in planning

size and space measurements. size and space measurements. And---you don't have to draw the "guide lines"! And---you don't have to draw the "guide lines"! If this is not available, preparing 12"x18" paper If this is not available, preparing 12"x18" paper

with 1/2" ball point pen lines (so they will not be with 1/2" ball point pen lines (so they will not be removed when erasing) will do just fine. removed when erasing) will do just fine.

Basic No. 2: KNOWING Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURELETTER STRUCTURE Learning to write English and print it are two Learning to write English and print it are two

very different skills. very different skills. Remembering to add extra space Remembering to add extra space between between

lineslines needed frequent repetition. needed frequent repetition. This is something not ordinarily done in the This is something not ordinarily done in the

cursive handwriting but is a must for a lettering cursive handwriting but is a must for a lettering page. page.

Also, planning upper and lower case letters has Also, planning upper and lower case letters has to be correctly organized so all words read to be correctly organized so all words read clearly and are correctly spaced. clearly and are correctly spaced.

Ascenders and descenders have different spatial Ascenders and descenders have different spatial needs, and crossbars can have several options. needs, and crossbars can have several options. With new vocabulary in mind, let's move on to a With new vocabulary in mind, let's move on to a first practice. first practice. Get your ruler handy?Get your ruler handy?

Basic No. 2: KNOWING Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURELETTER STRUCTURE No 2: MECHANICAL SPACING, No 2: MECHANICAL SPACING,

WHERE THE RULER RULESWHERE THE RULER RULES

Basic No. 2: KNOWING Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURELETTER STRUCTURE Mechanical spacing is just a matter of arranging units Mechanical spacing is just a matter of arranging units

of a of a letter spaceletter space ( for example, 1") immediately ( for example, 1") immediately followed by an followed by an emptyempty space (i.e. 1/4"), 1 unit for each space (i.e. 1/4"), 1 unit for each letter. letter.

We begin by making light marks for both above the We begin by making light marks for both above the printing area to determine the word width needed. printing area to determine the word width needed.

Then light guide lines (dotted lines in the sketch)are Then light guide lines (dotted lines in the sketch)are drawn making a box space for each letter to be drawn drawn making a box space for each letter to be drawn in a square or rounded form. in a square or rounded form.

The word "PARAGRAPHS" below was mechanically The word "PARAGRAPHS" below was mechanically spaced in this manner in a round Poster letter form. spaced in this manner in a round Poster letter form. Note that the letter "i" does not require a whole letter Note that the letter "i" does not require a whole letter space. space.

It is just drawn in after an empty space, with another It is just drawn in after an empty space, with another empty space following it as shown in the animated empty space following it as shown in the animated word above. word above.

Basic No. 2: KNOWING Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURELETTER STRUCTURE This pencil practice in mechanical spacing This pencil practice in mechanical spacing

involved a square sized capitalized word. involved a square sized capitalized word. The computer paper is measured in 1/2" lines The computer paper is measured in 1/2" lines

which made the height dimension very easy to which made the height dimension very easy to establish. establish.

If this is not available, simply measure 12"X 18" If this is not available, simply measure 12"X 18" paper into 1/2" line spaces in ball point pen. paper into 1/2" line spaces in ball point pen.

This allows erasing without line removal. The This allows erasing without line removal. The printing style is optional with either squared printing style is optional with either squared letters, middle peaked (as in "A") or rounded as letters, middle peaked (as in "A") or rounded as the demo word PLENTIFUL above. the demo word PLENTIFUL above.

Basic No. 3: OPTICAL Basic No. 3: OPTICAL SPACINGSPACING

No rulers with optical spacing! Just good eye No rulers with optical spacing! Just good eye judgment with a dose of common sense. judgment with a dose of common sense.

Optical spacing is a quick way to Optical spacing is a quick way to estimate estimate word size.word size.

It begins with by lightly sketching a shape It begins with by lightly sketching a shape representing the width of the desired letter, representing the width of the desired letter, followed by a smaller one for the space followed by a smaller one for the space between it and the next letter. between it and the next letter.

It is really "guestimating" rather than using It is really "guestimating" rather than using specific linear measurements. This is how it specific linear measurements. This is how it works............works............


A circle, elipse, rectangle, or square designates each space A circle, elipse, rectangle, or square designates each space needed. needed.

The demo uses circles--larger ones for each letter and The demo uses circles--larger ones for each letter and smaller elipses for the "in-betweens". smaller elipses for the "in-betweens".

As demonstrated in the Mechanical Spacing As demonstrated in the Mechanical Spacing demo the letter the letter "i" does not require a unit space. "i" does not require a unit space.

Again, a letter spacer is drawn first, then the "i", and Again, a letter spacer is drawn first, then the "i", and another letter spacer. Optical spacing is a relatively quick another letter spacer. Optical spacing is a relatively quick word spacing method and of course, not perfectly accurate. word spacing method and of course, not perfectly accurate.


This student practice of Optical Spacing This student practice of Optical Spacing was a reminder that lower case words with was a reminder that lower case words with descenders required 4 lines and 3 spaces. descenders required 4 lines and 3 spaces.

The brackets at the left helped defined the The brackets at the left helped defined the drawing area. drawing area.

The word "representing" was chosen The word "representing" was chosen because it offers 2 drop letters and an "i" because it offers 2 drop letters and an "i" for skill practices. for skill practices.

Basic No. 4: BLOCK Basic No. 4: BLOCK LETTERING, POSTER LETTERING, POSTER STYLESTYLE Poster style lettering has Poster style lettering has

even thickness in every even thickness in every direction. direction.

Mechanical spacing is the Mechanical spacing is the method used to create it--method used to create it--both the letter size and both the letter size and thickness. thickness.

In the demo below, In the demo below, the the "O" FRAME"O" FRAME is a is a simple guide to use in any simple guide to use in any letter formation. letter formation.

For practices (right), we For practices (right), we again found lined again found lined computer paper a great computer paper a great asset for students learning asset for students learning ruler dimensioning. ruler dimensioning.

Basic No. 4: BLOCK Basic No. 4: BLOCK LETTERING, POSTER LETTERING, POSTER STYLESTYLE Note that in the left demo having Note that in the left demo having

7 lines and 6 spaces, the letters 7 lines and 6 spaces, the letters "H" and "G" may have "H" and "G" may have different different BARBAR positions, the "g's" positions, the "g's" being higher. With 5 lines and 4 being higher. With 5 lines and 4 spaces there is only 1 bar spaces there is only 1 bar position. Try it! position. Try it!

PUTTING IT ALL PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERTOGETHER

Line by line, style by style, we Line by line, style by style, we practiced the 4 lettering basics. practiced the 4 lettering basics. Computer paper was bracketed at the Computer paper was bracketed at the very beginning (left) to ensure words very beginning (left) to ensure words would fit with proper line spacing would fit with proper line spacing between them.between them.

The image to the right shows the The image to the right shows the assignment given for skill competency assignment given for skill competency and grading. It included the Poster and and grading. It included the Poster and Roman fonts practiced, and added Roman fonts practiced, and added Italic placement and extended 3" Italic placement and extended 3" spacing in the last lettered word.spacing in the last lettered word.

PUTTING IT ALL PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERTOGETHER

cxc visual arts art of lettering. wisdom of the week “art is the signature of civilization.”...

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