1. CXC Visual Arts Art of Lettering

2. Wisdom of the Week “Art is the signature of Civilization.” “Art is the signature of Civilization.” …Beverly Sills …Beverly Sills

3. Objectives THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S" THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S" 4 BASICS TO BETTER LETTERING 4 BASICS TO BETTER LETTERING PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

4. THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S" The printing press and computer have brought us far from the days of stone and chisel. The printing press and computer have brought us far from the days of stone and chisel. With thousands of font styles, communication has a plethora of selections for effecting its purpose. With thousands of font styles, communication has a plethora of selections for effecting its purpose. Lettering has a specific vocabulary and the examples below will define them before proceeding to other aspects of Letter Design, Posters and Calligraphy. Lettering has a specific vocabulary and the examples below will define them before proceeding to other aspects of Letter Design, Posters and Calligraphy.

5. THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S" There are 3 "cases" in lettering: UPPER, lower and Mixed--demonstrated easily by those very 3 words. There are 3 "cases" in lettering: UPPER, lower and Mixed--demonstrated easily by 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 ads, and millions of other printed things can be upper or lower case--and mixed too. Titles, logos, newspaper headlines, store ads, and millions of other printed things can be upper or lower case--and mixed too. Designing and drawing these letters requires the use of "guidelines" which keep letter heights equalized. Designing and drawing these letters requires the use of "guidelines" which keep letter heights equalized.

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

7. Now "style" is the essence of lettering and gives certain character to the words it forms. We define 4 types, the first being "Script"--a style very familiar to "handwriting". It is a "thick and thin" letter form, is usually slanted (italic) and can be anything from very bold to very delicate. Now "style" is the essence of lettering and gives certain character to the words it forms. We define 4 types, the first being "Script"--a style very familiar to "handwriting". It is a "thick and thin" letter form, is usually slanted (italic) and can be anything from very bold to very delicate. The most common style, and most economic is "Condensed" in which height is greater than width. This extension of height allows more letters and therefore words, to fit on an advertising line. The most common style, and most economic is "Condensed" in which height is greater than width. This extension of height allows more letters and therefore words, to fit on an advertising line. The least used is "Extended", the very opposite of condensed. Instead of squeezing the letters upwards, it stretches and exaggerates them in a horizontal spacing. It requires lots of room. The least used is "Extended", the very opposite of condensed. Instead of squeezing the letters upwards, it stretches and exaggerates them in a horizontal spacing. It requires lots of room.

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

9. "Unusual" or Trademark lettering is special letter forms, logo designs for company identity and usually copyrighted. Nike, Coca-Cola, Spearmint are all recognizable practically the world over. "Unusual" or Trademark lettering is special letter forms, logo designs for company identity and usually copyrighted. Nike, Coca-Cola, Spearmint are all recognizable practically the world over. A designer may create hundreds of ideas until that perfect one is approved. A designer may create hundreds of ideas until that perfect one is approved. And the last category, "New" is an active state of creating and designing new fonts, headings or other eye catching words for brochures, logo offerings, or to suit specific the needs of a client. And the last category, "New" is an active state of creating and designing new fonts, headings or other eye catching words for brochures, logo offerings, or to suit specific the needs of a client. All the art elements of balance, texture, line, color, pattern, etc. are an important background for these applications. All the art elements of balance, texture, line, color, pattern, etc. are an important background for these applications.

10. THE LANGUAGE OF LETTERING HAS IT'S OWN "ABC'S" This is a very small sample of the tremendous number of text style communication formats everywhere. This is a very small sample of the tremendous number of text style communication formats everywhere.

11. 4 BASICS TO BETTER LETTERING Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLES The left sketch shows (a) the parts of a letter, and (b) guide lines which control the height and stem placements. The left sketch shows (a) the parts of a letter, and (b) guide lines which control the height and stem placements. The circled areas on the "Y" identify one form of a "serif" which caps the stem ends. The circled areas on the "Y" identify one form of a "serif" which caps the stem ends. There are 3 different ones in the Roman sample below: tapered curve, rectangular, and straight line. See them? There are 3 different ones in the Roman sample below: tapered curve, rectangular, and straight line. See them?

12. Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLES Roman style, an unusual "thick and thin" letter, often has thickness in different stem places. Roman style, an unusual "thick and thin" letter, often has thickness in different stem places. It usually has style endings called "serifs" on each stem end. It usually has style endings called "serifs" on each stem end.

13. Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLES Poster style, bold or general, is very popular and easy to read. Poster style, bold or general, is very popular and easy to read. It has even thickness in all directions and may or may not have serif endings. It has even thickness in all directions and may or may not have serif endings.

14. Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLES Script is a "connected" letter style, can be thick and thin or even thickness. Script is a "connected" letter style, can be thick and thin or even thickness. It usually is "italic" or slanted. It is a very graceful, decorative style. It usually is "italic" or slanted. It is a very graceful, decorative style.

15. Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLES Unusual or "trademark" text styles are usually copyright protected. Unusual or "trademark" text styles are usually copyright protected. They are created for specific company logos. They are created for specific company logos. Creating these new font styles takes lettering to exciting developments. Creating these new font styles takes lettering to exciting developments.

16. Basic No. 1: KNOW LETTER STYLES We began by finding 1 example of each style: Roman and Poster styles in upper, lower, and mixed case; We began by finding 1 example of each style: Roman and Poster styles in upper, lower, and mixed case; 1 Script and Trademark; 1 Extended, and if possible, 1 Condensed form--a very difficult one to find today. 1 Script and Trademark; 1 Extended, and if possible, 1 Condensed form--a very difficult one to find today. Samples could be overlapped and arranged in any direction and had to be labeled. Samples could be overlapped and arranged in any direction and had to be labeled.

17. Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURE Learning the basics of letter formation, mechanical measurements, optical judgment and new vocabulary are all excellent skills for students to develop. Learning the basics of letter formation, mechanical measurements, optical judgment and new vocabulary are all excellent skills for students to develop. It provides a hands-on math and English language project for students, besides art skills in communication. It provides a hands-on math and English language project for students, besides art skills in communication.

18. Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURE We begin with identifying the parts of a letter as diagramed in the left sketch. We begin with identifying the parts of a letter as diagramed in the left sketch. Lined computer paper is very helpful in planning size and space measurements. Lined computer paper is very helpful in planning 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 with 1/2" ball point pen lines (so they will not be removed when erasing) will do just fine. If this is not available, preparing 12"x18" paper with 1/2" ball point pen lines (so they will not be removed when erasing) will do just fine.

19. Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURE Learning to write English and print it are two very different skills. Learning to write English and print it are two very different skills. Remembering to add extra space between lines needed frequent repetition. Remembering to add extra space between lines needed frequent repetition. This is something not ordinarily done in the cursive handwriting but is a must for a lettering page. This is something not ordinarily done in the cursive handwriting but is a must for a lettering page. Also, planning upper and lower case letters has to be correctly organized so all words read clearly and are correctly spaced. Also, planning upper and lower case letters has to be correctly organized so all words read clearly and are correctly spaced. Ascenders and descenders have different spatial needs, and crossbars can have several options. With new vocabulary in mind, let's move on to a first practice. Get your ruler handy? Ascenders and descenders have different spatial needs, and crossbars can have several options. With new vocabulary in mind, let's move on to a first practice. Get your ruler handy?

20. Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURE No 2: MECHANICAL SPACING, WHERE THE RULER RULES No 2: MECHANICAL SPACING, WHERE THE RULER RULES

21. Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURE Mechanical spacing is just a matter of arranging units of a letter space ( for example, 1") immediately followed by an empty space (i.e. 1/4"), 1 unit for each letter. Mechanical spacing is just a matter of arranging units of a letter space ( for example, 1") immediately followed by an empty space (i.e. 1/4"), 1 unit for each letter. We begin by making light marks for both above the printing area to determine the word width needed. We begin by making light marks for both above the printing area to determine the word width needed. Then light guide lines (dotted lines in the sketch)are drawn making a box space for each letter to be drawn in a square or rounded form. Then light guide lines (dotted lines in the sketch)are drawn making a box space for each letter to be drawn in a square or rounded form. The word "PARAGRAPHS" below was mechanically spaced in this manner in a round Poster letter form. Note that the letter "i" does not require a whole letter space. The word "PARAGRAPHS" below was mechanically spaced in this manner in a round Poster letter form. Note that the letter "i" does not require a whole letter space. It is just drawn in after an empty space, with another empty space following it as shown in the animated word above. It is just drawn in after an empty space, with another empty space following it as shown in the animated word above.

22. Basic No. 2: KNOWING LETTER STRUCTURE This pencil practice in mechanical spacing involved a square sized capitalized word. This pencil practice in mechanical spacing involved a square sized capitalized word. The computer paper is measured in 1/2" lines which made the height dimension very easy to establish. The computer paper is measured in 1/2" lines which made the height dimension very easy to establish. If this is not available, simply measure 12"X 18" paper into 1/2" line spaces in ball point pen. If this is not available, simply measure 12"X 18" paper into 1/2" line spaces in ball point pen. This allows erasing without line removal. The printing style is optional with either squared letters, middle peaked (as in "A") or rounded as the demo word PLENTIFUL above. This allows erasing without line removal. The printing style is optional with either squared letters, middle peaked (as in "A") or rounded as the demo word PLENTIFUL above.

23. Basic No. 3: OPTICAL SPACING No rulers with optical spacing! Just good eye judgment with a dose of common sense. No rulers with optical spacing! Just good eye judgment with a dose of common sense. Optical spacing is a quick way to estimate word size. Optical spacing is a quick way to estimate word size. It begins with by lightly sketching a shape representing the width of the desired letter, followed by a smaller one for the space between it and the next letter. It begins with by lightly sketching a shape representing the width of the desired letter, followed by a smaller one for the space between it and the next letter. It is really "guestimating" rather than using specific linear measurements. This is how it works............ It is really "guestimating" rather than using specific linear measurements. This is how it works............

24. Basic No. 3: OPTICAL SPACING A circle, elipse, rectangle, or square designates each space needed. A circle, elipse, rectangle, or square designates each space needed. The demo uses circles--larger ones for each letter and smaller elipses for the "in-betweens". The demo uses circles--larger ones for each letter and smaller elipses for the "in-betweens". As demonstrated in the Mechanical Spacing demo the letter "i" does not require a unit space. As demonstrated in the Mechanical Spacing demo the letter "i" does not require a unit space.demo Again, a letter spacer is drawn first, then the "i", and another letter spacer. Optical spacing is a relatively quick word spacing method and of course, not perfectly accurate. Again, a letter spacer is drawn first, then the "i", and another letter spacer. Optical spacing is a relatively quick word spacing method and of course, not perfectly accurate.

25. Basic No. 3: OPTICAL SPACING This student practice of Optical Spacing was a reminder that lower case words with descenders required 4 lines and 3 spaces. This student practice of Optical Spacing was a reminder that lower case words with descenders required 4 lines and 3 spaces. The brackets at the left helped defined the drawing area. The brackets at the left helped defined the drawing area. The word "representing" was chosen because it offers 2 drop letters and an "i" for skill practices. The word "representing" was chosen because it offers 2 drop letters and an "i" for skill practices.

26. Basic No. 4: BLOCK LETTERING, POSTER STYLE Poster style lettering has even thickness in every direction. Poster style lettering has even thickness in every direction. Mechanical spacing is the method used to create it-- both the letter size and thickness. Mechanical spacing is the method used to create it-- both the letter size and thickness. In the demo below, the "O" FRAME is a simple guide to use in any letter formation. In the demo below, the "O" FRAME is a simple guide to use in any letter formation. For practices (right), we again found lined computer paper a great asset for students learning ruler dimensioning. For practices (right), we again found lined computer paper a great asset for students learning ruler dimensioning.

27. Basic No. 4: BLOCK LETTERING, POSTER STYLE Note that in the left demo having 7 lines and 6 spaces, the letters "H" and "G" may have different BAR positions, the "g's" being higher. With 5 lines and 4 spaces there is only 1 bar position. Try it! Note that in the left demo having 7 lines and 6 spaces, the letters "H" and "G" may have different BAR positions, the "g's" being higher. With 5 lines and 4 spaces there is only 1 bar position. Try it!

28. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Line by line, style by style, we practiced the 4 lettering basics. Computer paper was bracketed at the very beginning (left) to ensure words would fit with proper line spacing between them. Line by line, style by style, we practiced the 4 lettering basics. Computer paper was bracketed at the very beginning (left) to ensure words would fit with proper line spacing between them. The image to the right shows the assignment given for skill competency and grading. It included the Poster and Roman fonts practiced, and added Italic placement and extended 3" spacing in the last lettered word. The image to the right shows the assignment given for skill competency and grading. It included the Poster and Roman fonts practiced, and added Italic placement and extended 3" spacing in the last lettered word.

29. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER