LETTERING

LETTERING - Basically developed as a means to communicate.
It is another version of drawing

executed without using drawing instruments or freehand.
This is the kind of drawing that deals with the study of the forms, proportions, construction, style,
parts, spacing and directions of strokes an their perspective uses as reflected above.
Brief History of the Invention and Development of Letters
The development and spread of the alphabet is considered as the most challenging, yet the most
rewarding of all the past accomplishments of mankind. It is retraced back to the early civilization of
the Fertile Crescent of Egypt, Yangtze River of China and the Sinai Peninsula. After some
development, it spread to the other part of the world.
Basic Reasons for the Invention of Letters

To disseminate instructions from the leaders to the workers (slaves) in the field, as in the construction
of the great Pyramid. To enforce order in time of war and peace, as in running an empire.
Early Inventors of Letter

Some group of people of the early civilized inhabitants took pain in the inventions of ideas which were
accepted later.
1. Egyptians - 4,200 B.C, they invented a system in writing called “Hieroglyphics”. It is a system of
writing which uses 604 pictures and other abstract symbols to represent a letter or a word.
Hieroglyphics
2. Phoenicians - 1,700 B.C, they copied the Egyptian ideas and develop a writing system called
“Cuneiform”. Using wedge-shaped symbols to express an ideas. They used the Egyptian alphabet
without vowel sound.
Cuneiform Phoenicians
3. Greeks - 800 B.C, they added vowel sounds to the first alphabet. They later developed a writing
system called “Boustrophedon”.
4. Romans - 700 B.C, they modified the Greek alphabet to its present form. They are now
considered as the direct parents of the present form of alphabet that we used.
5. Sumerians - 2,000 B.C, these peoples were the inhabitants of Mesopotamia and the Senai
Peninsula. They used 300 phonetic signs, each of which stands for a sound as a syllable.
6. Chinese - 1,500 B.C, they invented a syllabic writing using more than 100 symbols called
“characters”. Reading was made vertical, from the top to the bottom.
7. Pilipino - The ancient Filipinos developed an alphabet independent to other western

forms. This happens during the Pre-Spanish time. It was composed of 17 letters with
14 consonants and 3 vowels serving as 5.
4 Essential Elements needed in learning to letter
1. FORM- this is the knowledge of the shape and the basic style of individual
letters.
2. STROKES- this is the order and directions of parts, as well as their sequence in
the Constructions.
3. PROPORTION - this is the study of the proper relations of parts, its height and
width with regards to the space available.
4. SPACING - this is the basic knowledge in apportioning distances in composition,
between letters, words and lines.
General Construction of Letters

UPPER CASE or CAPITAL LETTER – This is the form usually used in titles and in caption
due to its formality and stability in appearance.
LOWER CASE OR SMALL LETTER - This is the form applicable in notes of working
drawings.
PARTS OF A LETTER
Capital Letter
Stem – This is the vertical side.
Lobe – This is the curve side
Arm – This is the extension that joins the two stems together.
Bar – The horizontal arm.
Swab – An inclined arm
Small Letter
Body – This is the main portion of the letter. It is patterned after circle, or part of it.
Ascender –This is the part that goes up from the main body to the level of the capital letter, like
“b”, “k”, “d” and “h”.
Descender -This is the part that goes down from the main body. Like “g ”, ”j”, “p”, “q”, “y”
General Positions of Letters

1. VERTICAL – The stem of this letter stands upright. It commonly used in
architectural drawings.
2. INCLINED – in this positions, the stem stands oblique or slanting to the plane of
the paper at an angle of 67 ½ degrees.
Guidelines - Light lines used to align the height of the letters.
KINDS OF Guidelines
CAPITAL LETTERS
CAP LINE - This line controls the height of the letters.
MID LINE - This is the centermost line. It controls the mid bars.
BASE LINE - This line is where the letter rest.
P
SMALL LETTERS
CAP LINE - This is the same cap line used in capital letters.
WAIST LINE - This line limits the shoulders of the letters. It is drawn a little above
the mid line.
BASE LINE - This is the common base level for capital letters. Like the cap line,
both capital and small letters have these same lines.
DROP LINE - This line is used to control the descender of the small letters, like
letter “j”, “g”, “p”, “q” and “y”. It is always drawn below the base line.
tp WAISTLI
NE
Present Styles of Letter
1. Gothic Style - This is the simplest style. It is sometimes called Engineering Letters. This is
used in preparing captions for working drawing.
2. Roman Style - This is the modified Gothic Style. It is made by adding serifs to a Gothic form.
Roman Letter
3. Script Style - This is artistic long hand writing. It is noted for its feminine form where more
freedom of curves is allowed. This is commonly used preparing cards like wedding, Christmas,
invitation and thank you.
4. Far Eastern (Chinese) Style - This is a style composed of sharp and thin pointed strokes. It
is often used by the Chinese in the sign boards in stores, restaurants, or hotels.
Far Eastern (Chinese) Letters
5. Text Style - This is the Western thin and thick styles of lettering using sharp and pointed
strokes. It differ with the Chinese style in the sense that its strokes are pointed at both ends
and are more curves.
6. Space Age Computer Style - This is the latest letter style developed and added to the family of
letters. It is usually applied in Electronics and Electrical labels.

LETTERING

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LETTERING

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LETTERING - Basically developed as a means to communicate.

It is another version of drawing

Brief History of the Invention and Development of Letters

Basic Reasons for the Invention of Letters

Early Inventors of Letter

7. Pilipino - The ancient Filipinos developed an alphabet independent to other western

General Construction of Letters

General Positions of Letters

Guidelines - Light lines used to align the height of the letters.

Present Styles of Letter

Far Eastern (Chinese) Letters

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