Free calligraphy script fonts how to#

When doing calligraphy, you’re writing letters, whereas, with hand lettering, you draw them.

This could also be a helpful exercise to determine what sort of style of calligraphy you want to learn and practice.Īt this point, it’s also important to mention that calligraphy and hand lettering are not the same thing.ĭespite the fact that these two terms are often used interchangeably. Take a moment to look at the letters and think about what they communicate on an emotional level and how they make you feel.

Try to pay more attention the next time you’re in the city or any other place where you can see letters around you. Often we don’t pay any attention to letters used in advertisements, logotypes, and other promotional materials. The written word can be used to convey not only information but also emotions.Īs you can see in the image below, the same sentence written in two different styles can communicate a very different feeling. Today, calligraphy is used in many different ways.įrom personal use as a relaxing hobby and artistic expression to commercial purposes, official documents, wedding invitations, font designs, and much more. The word “minimum” is a popular practice word for calligraphers since it contains many similar shapes. I am focused on maintaining consistent spacing, slant, space within the letters (also known as counters), etc. In the example below, I am using two different colored brush pens along with the basic calligraphy strokes to write out the word minimum. Consistency and uniformity.Ĭalligraphy places great emphasis on consistent and uniform letterforms.Īchieving consistent stroke widths, angles, spacing, rhythm, etc., and overall letter shapes throughout a piece of writing is essential for creating a cohesive and visually pleasing result. Without calligraphy guidelines, you would have to guess and eyeball all the sizing and proportions, and it would make the whole process much more difficult. These are just some of the “rules” you need to follow to create this particular style of calligraphy.Ĭalligraphy guidelines allow us to focus on creating beautiful and consistent letterforms. That’s why we use the pen width as a measuring unit when it comes to broad-edged (flat tip) calligraphy styles. The letters are completely vertical, and they are proportionally sized according to the width of the pen. The angle of the pen is held at a 45-degree angle. This is particularly important for traditional calligraphy scripts.įor example, Blackletter calligraphy is created with a broad-edged tool. Letterform proportions and structure.Ī specific proportion and structure of letters are maintained throughout the writing. The contrast in stroke thickness that these tools can create while you write is one of the most prominent features of calligraphic letters. The broad-edged nib achieves that by keeping the pen at a consistent angle (and the direction of movement), whereas the pointed nib achieves that by adding/removing pressure as you write. These tools are specific for calligraphy because they can create stroke thickness variations. The two most common tools are broad-edged and pointed pens.

Variation in stroke thickness.Ĭalligraphy can be done with any writing tool however, there are specific tools dedicated to calligraphy. With that in mind, here are a few key features of calligraphy. It is common for the untrained eye to see these two as the same. It’s important to distinguish between handwriting (including cursive) and calligraphy. What are some key features of calligraphy? Note: Despite the art of beautiful writing being present in many cultures across the globe, I focus primarily on studying, practicing, and teaching Western calligraphy and the Latin alphabet. Western calligraphy (the Latin alphabet).We can primarily divide calligraphy into different cultures around the world. However, calligraphy is a broad term that encompasses a wide variety of styles and cultures from every corner of the globe. In other words, calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. What is calligraphy? In simple words.Ĭalligraphy is a visual art form that creates decorative handwriting using specific tools. Note – This page is consistently updated as I create new helpful resources. Frequently asked questions about calligraphy.Advanced calligraphy techniques and effects.Additional learning resources for calligraphy.Step 3 – Find a proper study resource and create an effective practice routine.Step 2 – Picking the correct calligraphy pen + the essential calligraphy tools.

Free calligraphy script fonts how to#

How to get started with calligraphy? The three-step formula.

What are some key features of calligraphy?.