Lettering

Lettering

Released September 2011
Publisher(s): Laurence King
ISBN: 9781856696869

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Book description

Using a combination of explanatory text, step-by-step photographs, and classic and contemporary examples, this unique survey brings together over 130 processes involved in creating lettering and applying it to surfaces. Included are hand-drawn lettering techniques (from sign writing to tattooing); dimensional lettering (hand engraving to laser cutting); typesetting (from letterpress to lettering in food); printing (Letraset to printing on bank notes); lettering on textiles (embroidery to flag-making); and illuminated type (neon signage to holography). Any designer wishing either to create lettering themselves or to commission work from external sources can use the book to look up the technical needs and processes for a particular task, so instantly expanding their repertoire of typographic media. 

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Introduction
  6. The anatomy of a letterform
  7. Upper- and lower-case letterforms
  8. The anatomy of metal type
  9. Digital letterforms and type
  10. 1. Hand-drawn and painted lettering
    1. 1.1. Calligraphy
    2. 1.2. Digital calligraphy
    3. 1.3. Graffiti
    4. 1.4. Tattooed lettering
    5. 1.5. Signwriting
    6. 1.6. Fairground painting
    7. 1.7. Canal boat painting
    8. 1.8. Road lettering and markings
    9. 1.9. Painting stained glass
    10. 1.10. Mosaic lettering
  11. 2. Type casting, composition and design
    1. 2.1. Letterpress
    2. 2.2. Hot metal composition
    3. 2.3. Book finishing
    4. 2.4. Punch-press stencils
    5. 2.5. Typewriters
    6. 2.6. Braille
    7. 2.7. Transfer lettering
    8. 2.8. Snellen eyesight test
    9. 2.9. Ishihara colour-deficiency lettering
    10. 2.10. Designing type
    11. 2.11. Creating digital type
  12. 3. Printing
    1. 3.1. Woodblock printing
    2. 3.2. Letterpress printing
    3. 3.3. Thermography
    4. 3.4. Lithography
    5. 3.5. Screen printing
    6. 3.6. Vitreous enamel signs
    7. 3.7. Rubber stamps
    8. 3.8. Hot foil blocking
    9. 3.9. Tin plate printing
    10. 3.10. Gravure printing
    11. 3.11. Banknotes and security printing
    12. 3.12. Dye-sublimation
    13. 3.13. Vinyl lettering
    14. 3.14. Inkjet printing
    15. 3.15. Direct-to-media printing
  13. 4. Cut, engraved and etched three-dimensional lettering
    1. 4.1. Letter cutting in wood
    2. 4.2. Letter cutting stone by hand
    3. 4.3. Letter cutting stone by machine
    4. 4.4. Sandblasting
    5. 4.5. Machine-routed letters
    6. 4.6. Water-cut letters
    7. 4.7. Hot-wire cutting
    8. 4.8. Laser cutting and etching
    9. 4.9. Pop-up and paper lettering
    10. 4.10. Machine engraving
    11. 4.11. Hand engraving
    12. 4.12. Glass-engraving
    13. 4.13. Acid-etching glass
    14. 4.14. Photographic etching
  14. 5. Moulded and cast three-dimensional lettering
    1. 5.1. Rendered lettering
    2. 5.2. Lettering in paper
    3. 5.3. Polystyrene moulding
    4. 5.4. Vacuum-forming and thermoforming
    5. 5.5. Rapid prototyping
    6. 5.6. Coins and medals
    7. 5.7. Lettering with plants
    8. 5.8. Lettering in food
    9. 5.9. Sand casting metal
    10. 5.10. Cast-aluminium and polyurethane signs
  15. 6. Lettering in textiles
    1. 6.1. Embroidery
    2. 6.2. Flag making
    3. 6.3. Machine embroidery
    4. 6.4. Cross stitch
    5. 6.5. Hand knitting
    6. 6.6. Machine knitting
    7. 6.7. Rugmaking
    8. 6.8. Woven letters
  16. 7. Illumination, animation and motion graphics
    1. 7.1. Fireworks
    2. 7.2. Illuminated metal and Perspex lettering
    3. 7.3. Light boxes
    4. 7.4. Neon signs
    5. 7.5. Variable message space
    6. 7.6. Hand-drawn animation
    7. 7.7. Motion graphics: title sequences
    8. 7.8. Motion graphics: bumpers and stings
  17. Further reading
  18. Glossary
  19. Index
  20. Acknowledgements

Product information

  • Title: Lettering
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: September 2011
  • Publisher(s): Laurence King
  • ISBN: 9781856696869