I often do approximate guide lines (roller ruler, T-square, (or Ames lettering guide – now that they have one with metric spacing) and then fix anything out of kilter using a scan and Krita. The assistants in Krita do all the mechanical layout work I need: lines, parallels, circles, skewing for perspective, etc.
Written in calligraphy, words appear to waltz across a page. But don't let the rythmic flourishes and old-world elegance of such lettering fool you. Calligraphy is easy to learn. All you need to do it are a few special tools and a bit of patient practice. Before long, you'll find making letters this way as comfortable as using your best penmanship.
- Why Learn Calligraphy. It may sound easy at first to learn to write beautiful fonts, but when learning calligraphy the trick is in the details. You can only achieve truly uniform lettering through the perfect interplay of tools, posture, ink, and paper.
- The technique and practices remain the same in modern calligraphy, and the best way to practice and perfect your calligraphy writing is to first get to grips with a mixture of thick and thin strokes. Our modern calligraphy for beginners guide will help you get to grips with this great technique and develop your calligraphy writing skills.
- This downloadable digital guide is divided into sections of PDF files so that you can easily identify which sections you’d like to print. Dedicating a small amount of time each day can help. This modern calligraphy practice guide gives you the space and structure for your practice sessions. And practice makes beautiful!
Calligraphy Guide Book
There are numerous styles and methods of calligraphy. We selected copperplate script because of its sophisticated appearance and simple form. Begin with a pen, a nib, ink or gouache, a guide sheet, and paper. Dip the pen into the ink until the hole of the nib is nearly covered; tap the nib on the rim of the pot, then make a few strokes on scrap paper to eliminate any excess ink, which might cause blotches or drips. The goal is to use enough ink to make solid lines, but not so much that the lines bleed. When the nib begins to scratch the paper, it's time to redip your pen.
Calligraphy Guide
Refer to the diagrams above to learn how to create letters and numerals (If you click on the tiny image, a new window will open with a full-size printable page). Position the paper at an angle, with the pen's tip aligned with one of the diagonal lines on your guide sheet. This technique may take getting used to because, unlike cursive handwriting, calligraphy usually involves lifting the pen from the paper several times during the course of making each letter.