Handwriting Between The Lines

[ethernautrix]

Lisa, the above photo of your writing is so gorgeous I revisited your flickr site. Can you take a pic of the above journal pages without the Toledo so we can enjoy more of the writing and colors? It is a visual feast....

 

 

Okay -- I just took these, quickly (open book, snap, snap, blurry, grr, snap):

 

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_yfW7l9SmjkY/TSJ4PzO9erI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/b_Ngc23ZdJc/s400/20110103%20writing%20between%20lines%201.jpg http://lh5.ggpht.com/_yfW7l9SmjkY/TSJ4TDKqChI/AAAAAAAAAnU/YDGWXqn8MNs/s400/20110103%20writing%20between%20lines%202.jpg

 

 

Nowhere near the league of the Kens.

 

 

 

 

Sheesh, was a bit harder than usual. Couldn't post... until I could. *Blink.* *Blink.*

Edited January 4, 2011 by ethernautrix

[beak]

I guess this is why I'm here at all - another good lead to achieving my goal of a fast, legible and, to me at least, attractive hand!

 

I'm all in favour of previously-discussed topics resurfacing; they nearly always illuminate some new facet, and those with experience of the topic from the past can add in their experiences with it over time. If the thing is old hat, and no one is interested at the moment, so be it, but you will nearly always catch some who are interested now, and for the first time.

 

I too had a quick practise at this. Results, in my case, disappointing at first, but reserving judgement for several days until it's had a fair run. Straight away, though, I can see that I may end up hovering slightly above the line, rather than being dead between the two; I think the upper part of the writing needs more fresh air than the lower part, and perhaps this is because the upper part carries more legibility info than the lower - does it?

 

Thanks Caliken.

[beak]

I guess this is why I'm here at all - another good lead to achieving my goal of a fast, legible and, to me at least, attractive hand!

 

I'm all in favour of previously-discussed topics resurfacing; they nearly always illuminate some new facet, and those with experience of the topic from the past can add in their experiences with it over time. If the thing is old hat, and no one is interested at the moment, so be it, but you will nearly always catch some who are interested now, and for the first time.

 

I too had a quick practise at this. Results, in my case, disappointing at first, but reserving judgement for several days until it's had a fair run. Straight away, though, I can see that I may end up hovering slightly above the line, rather than being dead between the two; I think the upper part of the writing needs more fresh air than the lower part, and perhaps this is because the upper part carries more legibility info than the lower - does it?

 

Thanks Caliken.

 

PS

Yes, when I was a lad, it was thought 'rude' to write someone a letter on lined paper - glad that's not necessarily so any more. Come to think of it, it was very hard to get it right back then - there were dozens of ways to be 'rude' (by which people meant, I think, something between untutored and not-classy) in a letter before you'd even got round to saying anything! Things have relaxed, certainly, and these days I'm just glad to get any sort of letter, because it represents an effort on the part of the sender, and I always appreciate that above all things; presentation takes a back seat.

Edited January 4, 2011 by beak

[Wickwack]

ethernautrix,

 

Love your handwriting - I noticed you wrote about not using iron gall ink with steel nibs. I know this is off topic but how do you know if your ink "has" or "is" iron gall??

[ethernautrix]

ethernautrix,

 

Love your handwriting - I noticed you wrote about not using iron gall ink with steel nibs. I know this is off topic but how do you know if your ink "has" or "is" iron gall??

 

 

Thank you, Wickwack.

 

I learned about iron gall here, FPN. There are only a few inks that contain iron gall: Diamine Registrar, Lamy Blue-Black (right?), and Montblanc Midnight Blue (fka Blue-Black) (bottled ink only; cartridges are not iron gall). Those are the ones off the top of my head (or the only ones I've paid attention to).

 

I'm pretty sure that iron gall inks will corrode gold-plated nibs, too. I suspect this is what caused the corrosion to my Waterman Le Man pens, the nib ring at the bottom of the nib. Unless I'm wrong, and there was another cause.

 

 

ETA: Links to more information.

 

Google search results for fountainpennetwork.com iron gall ink

FPN 5/23/10: Iron Gall Inks

FPN 8/13/09: Iron Gall Ink?

Edited January 4, 2011 by ethernautrix

[ribbit]

Just tried this last night. Although my writing is a bit wobbly in-between the lines, I rather like it. Always learn something new around here. No pics because my handwriting is hideous compared to what I've seen in this thread.

[HildyZ]

Although my handwriting isn't as tidy as the other examples on here, I'm an "in-betweener" usually. I don't like my ascenders and descenders to jostle each other. Good fences make good neighbors, you know.

[Italicist]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JnXXB0RwRlk/TSUz6HmihOI/AAAAAAAAAQE/OYOOjqPo7A8/s800/interlinear.jpgFrom Misc reading and writing

[physicsgirl]

From Misc reading and writing

 

Your writing is beautiful!

 

I should try printing out some paper that has 2.5 or 3 lines per inch to see if I can get a more comfortable size for my writing.

 

:roflmho: I have to say I am intrigued to discover if anyone has had an incident of a goat eating some of their papers.

[Jamesiv1]

This is a great topic. Thanks to everyone who has posted samples... Splendid!

 

I just want to offer some good guidesheets for this exercise. Adobe PDF documents suitable for printing, you can pick and choose the line width you like - in either blue line or black.

 

3/8 inch spacing:

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_three-eighths_black.pdf

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_three-eighths_blue.pdf

 

1/2 inch spacing:

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_half-inch_black.pdf

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_half-inch_blue.pdf

 

5/8 inch spacing:

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_five-eighths_black.pdf

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_five-eighths_blue.pdf

 

Hope it helps. Keep up the great work!

 

James

[physicsgirl]

This is a great topic. Thanks to everyone who has posted samples... Splendid!

 

I just want to offer some good guidesheets for this exercise. Adobe PDF documents suitable for printing, you can pick and choose the line width you like - in either blue line or black.

 

3/8 inch spacing:

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_three-eighths_black.pdf

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_three-eighths_blue.pdf

 

1/2 inch spacing:

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_half-inch_black.pdf

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_half-inch_blue.pdf

 

5/8 inch spacing:

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_five-eighths_black.pdf

http://www.iampeth.com/lessons/guidesheets/Madarasz_five-eighths_blue.pdf

 

Hope it helps. Keep up the great work!

 

James

 

Thanks for the pdfs. It saved me from having to go online and fiddle around. I'm going to try out the 5/8" lines first; I'll post a sample after I try it out tomorrow.

[katim]

Italicist

 

That is a very attractive italic hand! I think that you have clearly demonstrated the great advantage of writing between the lines because it has had the effect both of keeping the lines of writing on the page parallel and of keeping ascenders and descenders from clashing. It also has the inherent advantage of avoiding the writing having to cross the guidelines. I don't think it matters a jot that there's some 'wobble' - if anything it adds character and interest to the writing and, since you aren't showing a piece intended for competition or display, it seems to me perfectly acceptable.

 

I'd be interested in how long it took you to write this. I particularly like the way you have written this piece as a stream of consciousness. Whenever I'm practising I do the same thing and it's amusing to look back at previous 'thoughts'. It also saves having to find a suitable piece to copy!

Edited January 6, 2011 by katim

[Italicist]

Thanks for your kind comments, Katim and Physicsgirl. I didn't time myself accurately as I wrote this page, Katim, but it probably took under ten minutes -- just about as quickly as I can go and still retain legibility. I chuckled as I read your comment about not needing to find a suitable text when writing in a stream of consciousness: that was precisely my motivation for the choice! It was late at night when I wrote this and I simply felt a bit too lazy to look for anything more inspiring to write. Anything more elevated would probably have wound up requiring more careful writing and more time than I had -- and besides, I wanted to test Caliken's interlinear writing under the conditions of really quick everyday writing. It works well, Caliken!

 

all the best,

Italicist

[physicsgirl]

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab175/physicsgirl02/EPSON068.jpg

 

The pen was a 1.5 Pilot Parallel with the black ink cart that came with the pen.

The paper was HP 24lb Laser Jet with the 1/2" black line spacing template Jamesiv1 provided.

 

Edit: I thought it was the 5/8' lines, but it was the 1/2".

Edited January 6, 2011 by physicsgirl

[WendyNC]

Thanks so much for those links, James. I was trying this again today and came to the conclusion that I definitely need to start off with bigger spaces between the lines, so will try printing these tomorrow.

 

physicsgirl, I haven't had a goat eat any of my papers, but we're about to eat goat for dinner. Does that count?

[physicsgirl]

Thanks so much for those links, James. I was trying this again today and came to the conclusion that I definitely need to start off with bigger spaces between the lines, so will try printing these tomorrow.

 

physicsgirl, I haven't had a goat eat any of my papers, but we're about to eat goat for dinner. Does that count?

:roflmho:

 

We used to have goats, but they never ate any of my papers. For some reason this makes me sad, but with my luck it would have been something important.

 

Edit: The wider lines really helped. It was hard trying to cram my writing into the 1/4" lines that my regular paper has.

Edited January 7, 2011 by physicsgirl

[oakm]

Rock on, Ken!

 

Someone noticed that I did that, pointed it out to me. I hadn't noticed myself.

 

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5204144221_93cfa149e8.jpg

Pelikan Toledo by ethernautrix, on Flickr

 

 

Your handwriting looks lovely between the lines. Now I am inspired to follow your example.

[BklynWriter]

Rock on, Ken!

 

Someone noticed that I did that, pointed it out to me. I hadn't noticed myself.

 

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5204144221_93cfa149e8.jpg

Pelikan Toledo by ethernautrix, on Flickr

 

 

I simply LOVE your handwriting.

[Letterman]

I used to use a sheet of lined paper under a blank sheet to write straight. It never would have occurred to me to write between the lines. The effect is pleasing to my eyes. It's so straight and clean. I just love it.

 

Thanks for the tip - I'll try it. I have an unusual "talent" if you will ~ I can't write straight on blank paper unless it's turned at an angle with a corner pointed up and I write diagonally across it. Then I can write perfectly straight! Can anyone relate?

 

My lines also tend to ascend from left to right. I have been turning the page a few degrees counter clockwise to offset this trend like Wickwack. My last letter on blank sheet was still a disappointment with slightly ascending lines.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Letterman

[ethernautrix]

Your handwriting looks lovely between the lines. Now I am inspired to follow your example.

 

 

I simply LOVE your handwriting.

 

Aw, gee, thanks, you two! Very nice to hear. :-)