Learning Italic

[dms525]

I am happy to see the activity in this forum! I read it daily and enjoy it. I haven't posted here for a while.

 

Here is a sample of my current everyday italic hand. It was written for the "Inky Thoughts" forum here on FPN:

 

 

[Tasmith]

I am happy to see the activity in this forum! I read it daily and enjoy it. I haven't posted here for a while.

 

Here is a sample of my current everyday italic hand. It was written for the "Inky Thoughts" forum here on FPN:

 

 

 

Very nice!

[dms525]

 

Very nice!

 

Thank you!

 

David

[KaB]

I am happy to see the activity in this forum! I read it daily and enjoy it. I haven't posted here for a while.

 

Here is a sample of my current everyday italic hand. It was written for the "Inky Thoughts" forum here on FPN:

 

 

 

Hi David,

 

By 'everyday', do you also mean 'written at a fairly normal speed'?

[dms525]

 

Hi David,

 

By 'everyday', do you also mean 'written at a fairly normal speed'?

 

Yes. Normal speed for my cursive italic which is somewhat slower than my previous "normal" cursive scrawl. The other difference is that you can actually read my italic. What a concept!

 

There is a "pen factor" with italic that I never noticed with my previous normal cursive, which, of course, was usually written with a <gasp> ballpoint pen. Some nibs make a smooth, rhythmic italic writing much easier than other nibs. So, I think, my speed would be significantly different with different pens (nibs).

 

You know, I really should time how long it takes me to write the same paragraph in italic and in the above referenced scrawl.

 

David

[caliken]

This quote is by Hermann Zapf.

 

[ongnon]

I always love the way Ken write down the letters. Admirable work

And I love David daily Italic handwwritting.

[KaB]

Following Ongnon's advise of using paper with a slant line (and looking for the good slope...) I discovered in Fred Eager's 'the italic way' on p 111 a slant detection guide sheet (to discover what slant feels natural for you) and the claim that 'Good slant for the calligraphic mode is between 2,5° and 10°; for the cursive mode, between 5° and 15°'.

 

So I copied one of his sheets on reduced format to obtain the right spacing between the lines and just did my first exercise (still in Reynolds) on my new exercise-paper:

 

 

I later filled the lines under the exercise with text, discovering that it'll take some time to adapt to this steeper slope. (Oh, and what a weird 'x' )

[ongnon]

Better next time

I can see you write some letter very beautiful

[caliken]

 

So I copied one of his sheets on reduced format to obtain the right spacing between the lines and just did my first exercise (still in Reynolds) on my new exercise-paper:

I later filled the lines under the exercise with text, discovering that it'll take some time to adapt to this steeper slope.

You're using a sheet with slope lines at 10 degrees. Whilst you are doing a good job, it's important to settle on a slope which you find comfortable within the 0 - 15 degree range for Italic. You say that "it'll take some time to adapt to this steeper slope". It's far better to find the slope that's comfortable for you, and then work with that. You may well find the a 5 degree slope is better suited to your hand. Your chosen slope should accommodate your natural hand - not the other way round. I've seen beautiful Italic at 0 degrees, at 15 degrees and many in between. Whatever you do, should feel natural.

 

You're already making great progress

Edited August 14, 2014 by Ken Fraser

[ongnon]

[ongnon]

[ongnon]

[Algester]

man I have been trying but I never seem to get the hang of italic writing... it doesnt help that probably I came from cursive background despite I don't do flourishes... or probably because I do not understand how to get italic letter forms because then tend to end up being cursive :X

[ongnon]

man I have been trying but I never seem to get the hang of italic writing... it doesnt help that probably I came from cursive background despite I don't do flourishes... or probably because I do not understand how to get italic letter forms because then tend to end up being cursive :X

You write some words and may be somebody can help you, my first step is learning Cursive , after that: Italic - Swash Italic -Roman- Gothic- Fraktur, so I have the same problems as yours. Let me help you, may be it works

[ongnon]

man I have been trying but I never seem to get the hang of italic writing... it doesnt help that probably I came from cursive background despite I don't do flourishes... or probably because I do not understand how to get italic letter forms because then tend to end up being cursive :X

[Algester]

http://i.imgur.com/gFHyun4l.jpg

 

I tried... It just probably isnt working out :X

[ongnon]

Use your fountain pen, begin from small letter with suitable slant.

Better the second time

[Algester]

yeah I guess... time to probably get a 1.1 :X or probably print writing isnt just for me... >.<

[ongnon]

I think you use 1.5 or 2.0 is better.

Check out some document in this topic and find out how it works