top of page
Writer's pictureSerena Kramer

Is that Calligraphy or Hand-Lettering?

Hello, Dah’lings!

I often find that most people assume hand-lettering and calligraphy are the same thing, but they're not. In fact, there’s apparently a lot of people confused by this distinction, so I’ve included my favorite explanation about that from Lettering Daily.


This is hand-lettering.

Another issue that always gets confused is fonts vs. hand-lettering vs. calligraphy. So often, I see stationers posting pictures of handwritten calligraphy or hand-lettering that they grabbed from Pinterest, asking colleagues to identify the "font." They get very frustrated when they learn it was all handwritten. As an aside, it should also be noted that a calligraphy 'hand' is not a font. If you use the terms interchangeably, it's okay; no one is going to throw a brick at you, but I assume you'd like to know the difference. (Also, here's a quick run-down of the difference between a font and a typeface.) I know — there's so much detail! Each discipline— calligraphy, hand-lettering, typesetting, layout and design— require their own guidelines, principles, and production techniques.

With all of that said, I hope these resources help you if you're in the process of determining whether you need to hire a calligrapher or a hand-lettering artist as they require different motor skills, tools, and experience.


Pointed Pen Calligraphy using the vintage Blanzy 2552 nib, Dr. Ph. Martin's iridescent white ink on black envelopes.
Pointed Pen Calligraphy using the vintage Blanzy 2552 nib, Dr. Ph. Martin's iridescent white ink on black envelopes.

Warmly,

Serena





99 views0 comments

コメント


bottom of page