Technical Lettering

INTRODUCTION
Lettering is an impotent part of engineering drawing. It
gives information regarding size, and instructions, in the
form of notes and dimension. On a drawing, whole of the
written information is always in the form of lettering. It is
not hand written. Also, it may be added here, that Lettering
is appropriate and correct words but not printing (Printing
means production of printed material on a printing press).

 Lettering

The writing of alphabets and numerals such as A, B, C,

D…………………….Z and 1, 2, 3……………9, 0
respectively is called Lettering.
Mainly, there are two types of lettering most commonly
used in engineering drawing viz. Gothic Lettering and
Roman Lettering.  Single Stroke Inclined Gothic Lettering

These are single stroke letter inclined at 75' to the

 Classification Of Lettering
Horizontal.

The lettering, in general, is classified in two categories :-

1. Gethic Lettering
2. Roman Lettering.

 Gethic Lettering

Lettering having all the alphabets or numerals of uniform

thickness is called Gothic Lettering.

1. Vertical Gothic Lettering

2. Italic or Inclined Gothic Lettering.

 Single Stroke Vertical Gothic Lettering

These are vertical letter having thickness of each line of

alphabet or numerals etc. Same as the single stroke of a
pencil.Since Stroke means that the letter is written with one  Double Stroke Vertical Gothic Lettering
or more stems or curves and each made with single stroke.
Vertical letter drawn by double Stroke of pencil with
uniform thickness between these strokes are called Double
Stroke Vertical Gothic Lettering.
  Lower Case Vertical Single Stroke Gothic
Lettering

Lower case vertical gothic lettering is shown along with its

sizes. Which is quite self explanatory.

 Lower Case Vertical Double Stroke Gothic

Lettering

It is shown along with its size which is quite self

explanatory.

 Double Stroke Inclined Gothic Lettering

Double stroke gothic when inclined at an angle of 75' is

called Double Stroke Inclined Gothic Lettering.

 Lower Case Inclined Single Stroke Gothic

Lettering

It is shown with its sizes which is self explanatory.

  Roman Lettering

The lettering in which all the letters are formed by thick

and thin elements is called Roman Lettering.
It may be vertical or inclined or inclined. It can be written  Mechanical Lettering
with a chisel pointed Pencil or D-3 type Speed Ball Pen.
In Mechanical Lettering, standard uniform characters that
are executed with a special pen held in a scriber and guided
by a template. Mechanical lettering does not normally
require the use of lettering guidelines. You will use
mechanical lettering principally for title blocks and notes
on drawings, marginal data for special maps, briefing
charts, display charts, graphs, titles on photographs, signs,
and any other time that clear, legible, standardized lettering
is required. One of the most popular types of mechanical
lettering sets is the LEROY lettering set.
The Mechanical Lettering is some times done using special
type of device called a Pantograph.
A PANTOGRAPH is basically a device consisting of four
links which are pinned to each other in a parallelogram
fashion. The links can move about the hinge. The
lowermost link of the parallelogram is fixed to two rigid
supports. One vertical link at one end is connected to a
profile tracer which traces the profile of the letter to be
drawn and the second vertical link and the other horizontal
link are jointly connected to a pencil that draws the exact
 Free Hand Lettering shape of the profile traced.

 Height Of Lettering
The writing of alphabets without the use of drawing
instruments and in free hand is called Free Hand
The height "h" of the capital letter is taken as the base of
Lettering.
dimensioning.
It may be vertical or Inclined Gothic Lettering.
The main requirement of lettering on engineering drawing
are legibility, uniformity, ease and rapidity in execution.
Both upright and inclined letter are suitable for general use.
All letters should be capital, except where lower case letters
are accepted internationally for abbreviations.
The recommended size of lettering is as under :-
ITEM SIZE h,
mm
Drawing number in Title Block and letters 10, 12  First of all take the height of the lettering and
denoting Cutting Plane Section draw two parallel horizontal lines.
Title of Drawing 6, 8
Sub-titles and Headings 3, 4, 5, 6,
Notes, such as Legends, Schedules, 3, 4, 5
Material list, Dimensioning
Alteration, Enteries and Tolerances 2, 3

 Guide Lines

The light thin lines drawn to obtain uniform and correct

height of letters are called Guide Lines.
Guide line should be drawn very light and thin, so that, they
need not be erased after the lettering is finished. To erase
guide lines after finishing the lettering is not easily
possible. Guide line for capital and lower case lettering.
 Draw an inclined line at A and mark, 7 or 5 or as
required number of vertical squares or rhombii,
parts of any suitable size. Join B1 with B.

 Draw parallel line to B1B from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

meeting the line AB at A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and
A6.

 From A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6 draw

horizontal line.

 How To Draw Graph For Lettering

The letters are drawn in a graph. Before drawing the

alphabets or numerals of 7:4, 5:4 or any other ratio, a graph
is needed.
 From point B draw line at 45' to the horizontal.

Problems For Practice

1. Rewrite the following in free hand vertical up

right printing. Take height of letters = 10 mm.
"GROW MORE FOOD"?
2. Print free hand 10 mm height in capital up right
letters the following :- DIFFERENT
MATERIALS SHOULD BE INDICATED BY
NOTES ON DRAWING?
3. Write your name and the name of your institution
in free hand single stroke vertical lettering, taking
height of letters as 3 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm
and 12 mm?
4. Rewrite the following in free hand vertical
 Draw the vertical line for making lines for upright and inclined lettering. I AM PROUD OF
making squares and inclined line at an angle of MY COUNTRY, take height of letters = 3 mm,4
75' for making graph for inclined letters. mm,6 mm, 8 mm and 12 mm?
5. Print the following neatly on the drawing sheet in
vertical capital letters free hand only :- GOD
HELPS THOSE WHO HELP
THEMSELVES?
6. Write alphabets A to Z and numerals 1 to 9 and
"0" vertical upright and inclined lettering, free
hand, single stroke. Height of letters = 3 mm, 45
mm, 6 mm, 8 mm,10 mm and 12 mm?
7. Draw single stroke vertical capital letters of ratio
7 : 4 and 6 : 5, INDIAN STANDARD
INSTITUTIONS?
8. Print the single stroke vertical letters in height 28
mm in 7 : 4 ratio, BUY NATIONAL SAVING
CERTIFICATES?
9. Draw double stroke vertical lettering. A to Z ratio
= 5 :4, Height =25 mm, ENGINEERING
DRAWING?