Don't become a transfer slave

Sam

Chief Administrator & Benevolent Dictator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Messages
10,488
Location
Covington, Louisiana
There's a time and place for using a computer to aid in lettering, and there are times when it's impossible or impractical. Here's an example of it being impractical. I'm a computer graphics geek, but it was faster, easier, and more rewarding to do this layout by hand.

These are Mardi Gras medallions and were hand hammered for a slightly rustic look, so their surfaces are not as smooth as I would have liked. They are also very thin and difficult to hold securely to minimize vibration during engraving, but that's the daily life of a hand engraver.

During the layout I counted the letters and started with the center letter and drew my way to right and then the left. Laying them out to the right is no sweat. Going to the left is a bit awkward but you get used to it.

With the limited space available I opted for a 50/50 uppercase to lowercase ratio.

My advice to beginners is to learn to draw lettering. Time is money and the computer can be a great aid, but don't allow yourself to become a slave to transfers, because whatever extra profit you've made using the computer might quickly disappear as you fiddle and fumble around trying desperately to transfer something when drawing it is simply the best way to go.


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Drawing right-to-left...awkward at first.

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Starting the layout with the center letter results in a centered line of lettering.

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Bob A

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
167
Right on.... I've changed my drawing practice to much less scrolling but much more lettering, using alphabets from several calligraphy books. I figure if I'm ever going to support this habit and get it to pay for itself, it's much more likely to be by lettering than any other way. Bob
 

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