LETTERING

Origin and Development of

letter
Writing gave to man a means of accurate communication over long
distances and a method for storing the accumulated experiences and
knowledge of race.
Lettering as a means of recording thought can be traced back to
prehistoric times. Early man used a very crude form of picture of writing.
The Egyptians developed picture writing known as hieroglyphics which
is composed of three kinds:
1. pictures to represent objects
2. symbols to represent ideas
3. symbols to represent sound
 At about 5000 BC, when it was discovered that certain
pictures could represent particular sounds, known as
hieroglyphics. From this step, the Phoenicians are supposed to
have developed a fixed symbol for each sound. Later the
Greek changed the positions and forms of the symbols to
serve their own needs. Still later the Romans developed the
Greek symbols into an alphabet of their own.
Our present alphabet is taken almost directly from that of
the Romans. A few of our letters U, V, Y and W were
developed as late as the 17th century. The other letters have
developed over a period of 1,000 years.
 STYLES OF LETTERS
Lettering can be classified into three basic groups namely ROMAN, GOTHIC,
ITALIC and TEXT style
1. Gothic Letter
All letters composed of uniform width elements are called Gothic letters. This
type of letters can be made with speedball pen style A or B.
2. Roman Letter
All letters having strokes accented or made up of thick and thin elements are
classified as Roman letters. They are made with style C or D speedball pen.
3. Text Letter
Used in making lettering for diploma. It is made with style C or D speedball pen
4. Italic Letters
All slanting letter are classified as Italics. It is made with C and D speedball.
 STYLES OF SPEEDBALL PEN
Style A – has a square point and used for lettering single
stroke letters. This is good for gothic style of letters.
Style B – has round point for round gothic letters.
Style C – has a wedge point. This is used for Roman and
Italic alphabets with thick and thin elements.
Style D – has an oval marking tip used for bold poster
Roman letters with thick and thicker elements.
 IMPORTANCE OF LETTERS
1. They add other information which the
regular orthographic or pictorial drawings
cannot show.
2. They make up the written language of
industry.
3. They record ideas.
4. They help transmit ideas.
5. They facilitate communication.
General Classes of Persons Interested in the Study
of Lettering
1. Those who have to use letters and words to
convey information with drawings like engineers,
architect and draftsmen who are concerned with
speed and legibility in communication..
2. Those who use lettering in applied design like
artist, art students and painters who are concerned
with the beauty of forms and compositions.
 General Divisions of Letters
1. Single – stroke Letters
All letters done with one stroke of the pen or
pencil are known as single stroke letters.
2. Outline or Build – up Letters
The outline of the letter is drawn first before
filling it solidly. It may be done either in freehand or
mechanically.
 Proportions of Letters
1. Normal Letters
These letters are used when the space for lettering is adequate.
They are neither too narrow nor too wide and have the same height.
2. Extended Letters
These letters are wider than normal letters and are used when the
space to be used is wider than normal.
3. Compressed Letters
Letters that are narrower than normal letters with regard to the
proportions of width to height are known as compressed letters. This
type of letters is used when space is limited.
 Uniformity in Lettering
Good lettering is characterized by uniformity
in spacing, height, inclination and strength of
line. The use of guide lines and slope lines will
insure uniformity in height and inclination.
Weight and color can be achieved by skillful use
of the pencil and correct pressure of its point on
the paper. Through proper and constant
practice, all the above plus the ability to space
letters correctly can be gained.
 Rule of Stability in Letters and Numbers
1. The upper portion of the letters B, E, F, H, K, S, X and Z and
the figures 2, 3 and 8 must be slightly reduced in size. This is to
correct the optical illusion that they are unstable and their top
heavy if the areas of their upper and lower portions are made
equal.
2. The central horizontal strokes of the letters B, E, F and H
must be drawn slightly above the vertical center.
3. To give the letters K, S, X, Z and the figures 2, 3 and 8 a
more balanced appearance, the width of the upper portion are
made less than the width of the lower portion.
 Composition of Letters
Composition in lettering refers to the proper
selection, arrangements ans spacing od appropriate
styles and sizes of letters.
Composition in lettering requires careful spacing
not only of letters but words and sentences.
The most important requirement of lettering is
legibility. The second requirement is ease and
rapidity of execution.
 Spacing good practice to comply with the following
standards
1. Space Between Letters
a. The space between letters combined into words should be arranged so that the areas are
made to optically appear more or less equal.
b. For standard lettering this area is about equal to one – half the area of the letter M.
c. If the adjacent sides are stems, this area is obtained by making the distance between the
letters slightly greater than one – half the height of a letter and smaller depending on the
contours for other combination
2. Space Between Words
The space between words should be equal to or greater but not more than twice the height of a
letter.
3. Space Between Sentences
The space between sentences should be somewhat greater than but not more than twice the
height of a letter.
 Guide Lines in Lettering
Horizontal Guidelines
1. Cap Line
Uppermost horizontal guide line drawn for upper case letters and stroke of letters
that extended up which is known as the ascender.
2. Waist Line
A horizontal guide line drawn between the cap and base line used to determined
the general height of lower case letters.
3. Base Line
A horizontal guide line where all the letters rest or stand.
4. Drop line
A horizontal guide line drawn for letters with strokes that extend down which is
known as descender.
 SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
1. Draw letters I, L, T, F, E and H
2. Draw letters N, A, X, Y and Z
3. Draw letters P, R, B, U and J
4. Draw letters O, Q, C, G, D and S
5. Draw letters V, W, M and K