Knowing how to properly identify and distinguish between the three is important for developing an eye for design and helping you select the right tool for your project. Additionally, understanding the variations between the three can give your artwork more depth and personality.
In this article, you’ll learn the distinct differences between Calligraphy, Lettering, and Fonts, and then know which one to use to craft the perfect product for your practice.
Surely you have heard about Lettering, when I started practicing a few years ago I had a slightly different concept from the one I have now, at first I thought that Lettering was what I now better know as Calligraphy, and little by little I learned the differences.
Calligraphy is the art of writing beautiful letters, different tools are used that give special characteristics to each style, the artist gives variation to the strokes with movements in the hand and creates unique and unrepeatable works. A calligrapher practices over and over again until he perfects the strokes of the same style. It is usually done in a single stroke without changes or corrections.
This is an example with a calligraphy nib and ink.
There are many calligraphic styles such as Italic or Chancellor, Gothic, and English, etc. Each of these styles can be achieved with different tools like a parallel pen or a pointed nib.
Brush Lettering is like making Calligraphy with brushes or brush-type markers, to which different effects and decorations are made. It has become a very popular practice in the last few years. And it looks like the piece below.
Lettering is more drawing than writing, it is the art of drawing letters, the letters are made from different shapes and strokes, corrections and adjustments to achieve the shape we want. It can be done with a wide variety of materials ranging from a simple pencil, brushes, markers, pens, colored pencils, and even watercolor; or also digitally on the computer or tablet. It is a technique of design and composition of words and letters that seek to fulfill a function.
Here is an example of a lettering word.
So, if you are an artist or graphic designer interested in Lettering and are familiar with calligraphic styles, you will be able to create more interesting Lettering pieces since, by knowing the bases and rules of writing, you can later break them into different styles with calligraphic bases.
Finally, we have Fonts, which are systems of letters, numbers, and signs that form an alphabet with the same characteristics and, are mostly used digitally nowadays. A group of fonts with variations in width or size, create Typefaces like Helvetica or Times New Roman.
Typefaces always look the same, but Calligraphy and Lettering do not look the same, since they are done manually and that gives a special touch to each design piece you create.
I hope this information was useful and you learned the differences between these beautiful practices.
See you next time!
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