c. Rest the pencil on a table or other firm surface, then cut off the
tip using a sharp singleedged razor blade held at a right angle to the
pencil. Exert a firm steady pressure until the tip snaps off.
d. After you satisfactorily complete steps a through c, the lead will
have the correct shape, but it will be rough. To smooth the tip, hold the
pencil at a right angle to the paper and make several strokes. This will
remove any burrs from the tip.
e. An alternative to the process described in the preceding paragraph
is to use sand paper to shape the lead. Use this process if you do not
have a sharp singleedged razor blade. Never use a dull razor blade as it
may slip and cut you.
4.
Summary.
This completes our discussion of the pencil as a lettering tool. In the
next part of this lesson, you will learn similar information about the
lettering pen.
PART B TECHNIQUES OF LETTERING USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF PENS
5.
Introduction to Lettering Pens.
Before the invention of the printing press, authors hand lettered all
books and other documents using a broad, flat pen.
a. Freehand lettering with a technical fountain pen, standard fountain
pen, speedball lettering pen, or a flexible quill with ink is still a
valid and useful technique to letter posters, signs, charts, and displays.
There are a wide variety of inks presently available. They range from a
high pigment, opaque India ink to a low pigment writing ink and are
available in an assortment of colors. There are multiple pens suitable
for lettering the projects assigned to you. Just as with the pencil, you
must know how to select the proper pen for your task and how to use it
correctly.
b. In this part of the subcourse, you will learn the features of
technical fountain pens, speedball pens, and text writing pens. These are
the most common and the ones you will most likely use.
(1) Technical fountain pens. Several manufacturers produce these
pens and their greatest advantage is that they have a reservoir that holds
ink. Figure 25 shows a cutaway drawing of a technical fountain pen.
2-5
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