Copperplate With An Edged Nib

[caliken]

This is just a bit of experimental fun.

 

In the second version the shades are distributed quite differently, so it can't really be described as a Copperplate-style derivative.....but it looks quite good IMHO.

 

[Stompie]

Nice Ken!

 

For rough notes I often use an italic nib (actually I don't use a normal fountain pen nib at all) and write a sort of copperplate style - looks nice, IMO.

[Randal6393]

If you don't mind, Ken, what is the nib height and line height? I think this works because of the narrowness of the italic nib compared to what would be used in italic (particularly cursive). Any thoughts on that?

 

Enjoy,

[caliken]

If you don't mind, Ken, what is the nib height and line height? I think this works because of the narrowness of the italic nib compared to what would be used in italic (particularly cursive). Any thoughts on that?

 

Enjoy,

I checked it out and I think that it may be deceptive.

 

It was written a while ago. As far as I can remember, the nib was a Rotring Artpen 1.1 and the letter height is five times nib width, which is my normal for Italic. Thanks for your interest.

[DrCodfish]

I'm really taken by this, I've made casual attempts to learn this style of writing in the past but my handwriting is so poor that I gave up each time after a week or so of practice with no appreciable improvement. I am a lefty overwriter of the worst sort; I hook my wrist significantly so that the nib is poised to write with a push stroke (down) at just about 90 degrees to the line. I believe that anything is possible, but I cannot imagine what effort I would have to make to break this habit.

 

But here is a question:

 

do you use writing guides (under your paper) and do you have them matched (spacing) with certain nibs that you frequently use so that the ratio of line width and letter height are correct? That seems like it would be a very helpful tool when starting out, and even if you were at this for a long time.

 

Advice greatly appreciated.

[caliken]

do you use writing guides (under your paper) and do you have them matched (spacing) with certain nibs that you frequently use so that the ratio of line width and letter height are correct? That seems like it would be a very helpful tool when starting out, and even if you were at this for a long time.

 

The answer is yes to both questions.

 

I don't believe in making life any more difficult than it has to be, and I use guidelines most of the time.

 

I make my own guidelines in a PC drawing programme, and I use them in various ways. I sometimes print them in very pale blue which doesn't copy. If the paper is thin enough, I sometimes print the lines in black (with the slope lines in reverse) so that they show through the paper when viewed from the blank side. If the paper is too thick, I use a lightbox with the lines underneath.

 

If I'm using very heavy paper or card for a scroll or similar one-off artwork, I pencil in all the lines and then remove them later after the ink has dried thoroughly. The initial preparation for this kind of work - working out an attractive layout, writing out a quick rough, checking that it all fits and pencilling in guidelines, can take longer than the actual writing! I usually do this preparation at a different time from the finished writing, so that I can approach it with a fresh hand and mind

 

If I'm working on a very large, important piece, I usually try to arrange it, so that I'm writing late at night when I'm at my calmest! There are no interruptions at that time, the TV is off and the 'phone doesn't ring.

 

I once made a serious mistake, some years ago, which involved losing about two days' work and starting over. Since then, I've always been very careful in my preparation and always avoid the temptation of short cuts.

 

If I want to use normal proportions for the letters, I space the lines according to the style e.g. Italic minuscules 5 nib-widths high.

 

Ken

Edited April 15, 2014 by Ken Fraser

[DrCodfish]

Thanks, this helps a lot, reminds me of my time as a draftsman in the army back in the last century.

[Tasmith]

The answer is yes to both questions.

 

I don't believe in making life any more difficult than it has to be, and I use guidelines most of the time.

 

I make my own guidelines in a PC drawing programme, and I use them in various ways. I sometimes print them in very pale blue which doesn't copy. If the paper is thin enough, I sometimes print the lines in black (with the slope lines in reverse) so that they show through the paper when viewed from the blank side. If the paper is too thick, I use a lightbox with the lines underneath.

 

If I'm using very heavy paper or card for a scroll or similar one-off artwork, I pencil in all the lines and then remove them later after the ink has dried thoroughly. The initial preparation for this kind of work - working out an attractive layout, writing out a quick rough, checking that it all fits and pencilling in guidelines, can take longer than the actual writing! I usually do this preparation at a different time from the finished writing, so that I can approach it with a fresh hand and mind

 

If I'm working on a very large, important piece, I usually try to arrange it, so that I'm writing late at night when I'm at my calmest! There are no interruptions at that time, the TV is off and the 'phone doesn't ring.

 

I once made a serious mistake, some years ago, which involved losing about two days' work and starting over. Since then, I've always been very careful in my preparation and always avoid the temptation of short cuts.

 

If I want to use normal proportions for the letters, I space the lines according to the style e.g. Italic minuscules 5 nib-widths high.

 

Ken

Very helpful information. I've heard several calligraphers say they work at night too.