What is "branching"?

[PhiloPlume]

Hello!

 

I have been reading the Speedball Textbook, 25th edition, and it is amazing.  What talent and what a reference.  I am learning alot and did not know about some styles of calligraphy and some pens and nibs.

 

There is quite a bit on Italic writing. Page 32 "Italic Variations" is quite a resource.  I did not know some of this before reading this small page and looking over the examples.  It mentions "Changing the feel of the Italic hand can be achieved by varying the pen angle, pen scale, branching and slant."

 

What is branching?

 

[dms525]

"Branching" refers to where the arc of a letter, for example n, leaves the vertical stoke.

 

David

 

 

[inkstainedruth]

Huh.  I've taken calligraphy classes in high school and college, and one or two after college.  And I've never run across the term "branching" before.  The stuff I learn on FPN constantly amazes me!  Thanks!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[PhiloPlume]

4 hours ago, dms525 said:

"Branching" refers to where the arc of a letter, for example n, leaves the vertical stoke.

I get it.  Kind of a Doh! moment.  Thanks David!

[dms525]

Here is a great illustration of letter "anatomy" from Robert Palladino. Note where he shows "branch" on the letter.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

David

[PhiloPlume]

1 hour ago, dms525 said:

Here is a great illustration of letter "anatomy" from Robert Palladino. Note where he shows "branch" on the letter.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

David

That is wonderful David! I thought the branch was on top of where it is in the illustration.   Is there a pen and nib that writes like the examples, especially the bottom right one? I like the lighter and finer one 🙂  I wonder what the actual size of the letters are.

 

Thanks again!

[dms525]

5 hours ago, PhiloPlume said:

That is wonderful David! I thought the branch was on top of where it is in the illustration.   Is there a pen and nib that writes like the examples, especially the bottom right one? I like the lighter and finer one 🙂  I wonder what the actual size of the letters are.

 

Thanks again!

 

David

[PhiloPlume]

On 1/4/2025 at 6:44 PM, dms525 said:

 

David

Thank you David!

 

I know I am improving and getting close with italic, but I think my problem is that I am trying to write too small with too large a nib.  I think some of the books I have write larger and reduce it for print.  I have found that is the case with Copperplate too (I finally had a professional tell me that that the authors write at the size they are most comfortable with and then reduce it for print - all the Copperplate demonstration and instructional videos I have watched write huge letters to look fancy).

 

I don't think I can expect my handwriting to be smallish like I want with an italic or cursive italic nib.  I am now only writing letters and notes with an extra-fine or fine Japanese regular fountain pens and nibs (mostly Pilot).

 

But I do need to ink up my F-C music nib and go through letter shapes until they are right though!

 

By the way, I recently bought an extra-fine point regular nib F-C limited edition "Bountless Horizon" pen from GouletPens and it writes like a western medium to broad.  Not happy.  I will hardly use it.  I tried various inks and papers.  Not much difference.

 

-paul

 

 

[Penguincollector]

  @PhiloPlume, what I have done to get a smaller italic nib (besides getting pens ground professionally- most of my pro grinds are italics) is buy the extremely cheap Chinese piston pens from Aliexpress (seriously, they are under $2) and use a nail clipper to snip off the ball tip at the very end of the EF nib, then use micromesh pads from coarse to fine to get a very crisp, extra fine untipped italic nib. I’m happy to walk you through it if you decide to attempt it, just message me.

 

Pens I use

 

Micromesh pads I use

 

 

[PhiloPlume]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

  @PhiloPlume, what I have done to get a smaller italic nib (besides getting pens ground professionally- most of my pro grinds are italics) is buy the extremely cheap Chinese piston pens from Aliexpress (seriously, they are under $2) and use a nail clipper to snip off the ball tip at the very end of the EF nib, then use micromesh pads from coarse to fine to get a very crisp, extra fine untipped italic nib. I’m happy to walk you through it if you decide to attempt it, just message me.

 

Pens I use

 

Micromesh pads I use

 

 

Might give it a go, but not sure about ordering in the US from that website. I have heard of it though.

 

I already do have those exact mesh pads.  I haven't used them yet.  I need to find a victim that isn't extremely expensive to sacrifice!

 

Thanks!

[Penguincollector]

  I was skeptical about ordering from there, but both my Visa and Apple cards offer virtual card numbers when buying online to prevent any sort of fraud PayPal also offers an extra layer of protection against anything hinky. Next time I order from them, I’ll pick up an extra or two and send them your way.

[PhiloPlume]

2 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  I was skeptical about ordering from there, but both my Visa and Apple cards offer virtual card numbers when buying online to prevent any sort of fraud PayPal also offers an extra layer of protection against anything hinky. Next time I order from them, I’ll pick up an extra or two and send them your way.

Thanks!!  I never heard of virtual cards.