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Engineering Lettering

Arbuthnot

By Arbuthnot
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Arbuthnot New

Arbuthnot

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My late father had a beautiful style of handwriting. He had studied engineering, and learned the slanted engineering drafting penmanship, as opposed to the vertical architectural style. I think I have that right. The lettering was all caps and small caps, and struck a nice balance between individuality and legibility.

 

My questions are: does anyone out there know of a good source book for this style and/or a software font. Also, I read about a program that will enable you to take handwriting and turn it into a usable font. I can't find this anywhere now.

 

I'd appreciate any help anyone could provide.

 

Thanks,

Bill

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WillAdams Extremely Rare

WillAdams

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Lots of good books on this style of lettering --- one of my favourites is Maria Sutherland's _Lettering for Architects and Designers_ (which I think features some samples of lettering by Francis Ching, but was incorrect about his having authored it --- thanks for the correction Arbuthnot!).

 

There're already a number of typefaces in this style:

 

Tekton - based on Francis Ching's lettering

Graphite - by David Siegel, who did the digitization of the above

Eaglefeather - based on Frank Lloyd Wright's lettering for the Olive Hill project

 

There're lots more, but those are the ones which come to mind.

 

For typeface design / editing software FontLab is pretty much the commercial standard:

 

http://www.fontlab.com

 

(they've a less expensive version called Typetool as well) and they also purchased Fontographer from Macromedia and have been updating it.

 

--- ob. discl. I've been using FL since v1

 

If you're willing to use XWindow a free, opensource alternative is FontForge available at:

 

http://fontforge.sourceforge.net/

 

William

 

(Edited to correct book author cite)

 

Edited by WillAdams
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Kalessin Collectors Item

Kalessin

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I second the Francis Ching recommendation...

 

I learned both the vertical and slanted engineering lettering styles in high school (though I probably haven't used it since my last hand-drawn stage lighting design six or so years ago). There can't be that many people left teaching or learning drafting by hand (as opposed to CAD).. Of course, CAD is useful in so many ways that hand-drawing can't compete, but I love the art in old blueprints and engineering drawings.

 

-- Joel -- "I collect expensive and time-consuming hobbies."

 

INK (noun): A villainous compound of tannogallate of iron, gum-arabic and water,

chiefly used to facilitate the infection of idiocy and promote intellectual crime.

(from The Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce)

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wvbeetlebug Collectors Item

wvbeetlebug

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I love this style of handwriting. I work for a consulting firm and I often have the pleasure of viewing plans. Last week I received a bid package in which someone had filled in all of the blanks with this beautiful writing. I literally poured over each page and studied the writing. :blush:

 

It's an illness I'm telling ya.

:happycloud9:

 

Cathy L. Carter

 

Live. Love. Write.

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WillAdams Extremely Rare

WillAdams

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I really hope people learn to draw by hand before starting w/ a computer, and how to letter as well.

 

William

 

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Momomar Mint

Momomar

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Last week I received a bid package in which someone had filled in all of the blanks with this beautiful writing. I literally poured over each page and studied the writing.

 

So did you give them the job?

 

 

Flying by the seat of my pants.

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Arbuthnot New

Arbuthnot

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I want to thank each of you who took the time to reply. So many of these boards are largely populated by egomaniacs and useless boors. It's always a pleasure to find a community of knowledgeable, friendly folks.

 

If I can make any progress on this, I'll come back and show what the font looks like.

 

Bill

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eirridia NOS (New Old Stock)

eirridia

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Last week I received a bid package in which someone had filled in all of the blanks with this beautiful writing. I literally poured over each page and studied the writing.

 

So did you give them the job?

 

I started my career in an architects office (later changed to engineering) and have used an adapted Tekton script for the past 35 years as my normal handwriting - adapted because I tend to drop the J and Y below the line.

A former employer once admitted to me that the reason I was selected for interview was because my application form was written in this script and was so admired by the selection panel.

真 流 功 武

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wvbeetlebug Collectors Item

wvbeetlebug

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Last week I received a bid package in which someone had filled in all of the blanks with this beautiful writing. I literally poured over each page and studied the writing.

 

So did you give them the job?

 

They didn't get the job (wasn't my call), but I still have the contract. I may study it further. I have been asked before if I had taken a drafting class.

:happycloud9:

 

Cathy L. Carter

 

Live. Love. Write.

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Arbuthnot New

Arbuthnot

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Lots of good books on this style of lettering --- one of my favourites is Francis Ching's _Lettering for Architects and Designers_.

 

With all due respect, might this be incorrect? I searched Google, alibris, B&N and Amazon, and the the above-titled book seems to have been written by Martha Sutherland. Of course, seeing the Ching titles made me put four of his book on my "to-buy" list.

 

Thanks,

Bill

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WillAdams Extremely Rare

WillAdams

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Arbuthnot, you're correct --- I think Martha Sutherland's _Lettering for Architects and Designers_ includes samples by Francis D. K. Ching, but obviously organic memory is uncertain.

 

William

 

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DRP Vintage

DRP

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Corien Bennink will turn your handwriting into a computer font for a reasonable price. I used her service and was quite satisfied. If I recall correctly, she is listed in the FPN under "Corien"

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