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I wanna write like an architect

I wanna write like an architect

I wanna write like an architect

(OP)
There is a distinctive style of handwriting that usually shows up on architectural drawings, and sometimes engineering prints; ever noticed this?  It's in all-capitals with oddly descending vertical lines, and egg-shaped O's and other strange features.

Is there a name for this style?  I was talking with a guy who wrote like this on his notepad, and it made him look like an authentic old-time engineer, but he wasn't that old.  Did they teach this in drafting classes at one time?  There must have been a purpose for it, but I can't imagine what.

RE: I wanna write like an architect

Frank Loyd Wright's lettering style has been digitized.  You used to be able to get it as a font for AutoCad.

RE: I wanna write like an architect

McCormick93,

   It looks neat!

   I used to have pretty good looking block capital lettering, but then they replaced my drafting board with AutoCAD.  It would take me several weeks of practice to get back into it.  I sure am glad I learned to type.

   Back in the days of drafting boards, good lettering was a requirement for drafters.  Excellent lettering was a requirement for architectural drafters, since their drawings would be used for sales purposes.  My lettering was just good.

   Some people just have neat, elegant writing and printing.  I recently asked a woman if she had ever worked on a drafting board.  It turned out she had not.  She is an architectural writer, and she gradutated from an arts course somewhere.

   You can always try the Windows City Blueprint font!

                       JHG

RE: I wanna write like an architect

I learned it in mechanical drawing class and then reinforced it in technical drawing class while in high school.

RE: I wanna write like an architect

In school (both university and high school) we used to practice our own 'style' and develop a technique that worked for us individually.  I used to experiment with different strokes, looks, serifs, etc.  In a high school drafting class we posted completed drawings to critique and one of the evaluation points was the lettering style.  There's no traditional name for the style.  We just called it 'lettering' and each person has their own.  Being able to do really nice lettering is almost a point of pride among architects.

After graduating from college, I would occasionally run across lettering that I really liked and kept samples.  I think I still have a copy of a terra cotta shop drawing from the late 1800's that had the most beautiful lettering I've ever seen.  I also used to have a boss that was bad in almost everything, except his lettering.  I think I still have a copy of that somewhere as well.  Copying the styles of others is useful, but ultimately it must work for your own hand and eye.

The bottom line is that you have to practice, practice, practice and find something that works for you.  Our word processing software (appleworks) has a font called GraphMM that is a good basis for that stylized look.  I'm sure microsoft has something similar.  Autocad has numerous versions of stylized fonts that simulate hand lettering.  I'd tell you the names but I can't remember them at the moment (we use Vectorworks).  

The best time to play with your lettering style is during really boring staff meetings.  That's my trick for looking awake and rivited on the topic of discussion, usually of interest to only 2-3 people in the room.

Oh, and the most important thing is THE PEN OR MARKER!!

My current favorite is the uniball gell impact, 1.0mm or the uniball vision elite.  You may also find that you will have a color preference.  Personally, I never write in red.

RE: I wanna write like an architect

casseopeia,

   Fountain pens can look very good, especially if you have a slight wedge nib.  

   For pencil lettering, I always get my best results from a 2mm leadholder.

                    JHG

RE: I wanna write like an architect

drawoh,

You must be someone of true dedication!  I don't think I've ever managed a fountain pen that hasn't leaked somewhere on me or my drawing.  I do not possess the strength of character to master the beast!

And I've given over my pencil drawing to the 0.9mm mechanical pencil with H leads and those puny built-in erasers.  I'm so ashamed.  It's a good thing that most of my field sketches are done alone, in near total darkness, in attics and crawl spaces.

Oh for the days of drawing in ink on waxed linen.

RE: I wanna write like an architect

I learned architectual lettering as a residential designer for an architectual firm.  It's one thing to have clear "lettering", quite another to have stylish and clear lettering.

From what I have seen, the lettering style described is a by product of function and form.  It is also depends on how much time you have spent on a manual drafting board with a parallel bar and triangle.  After awhile (with practice) block lettering becomes faster than cursive.

I still write my 8's as two stacked-circles rather than a vertical infinity symbol.  I still make my O's with two semi-circles, while 0's are one continuous stroke.  And I still have a nice "pad" on my middle-finger (from rolling my pencil) even though it's been almost 20 years since I've touched a board or wrote more than simple, short notes.

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RE: I wanna write like an architect

MicroStation has these Architectural Fonts in its default font library.

Ciao.

RE: I wanna write like an architect

Use a straight edge, vertical to sheet, to print each character. Keep one side of the lead flat, and the flat side vertical to the sheet. Basic drafting lettering.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP0.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

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