What is the lettering on it and how to make
His Work Inspiration / / December 26, 2019
Svetlana Kurako
Marketer, business development expert, letterer.
The word "lettering" for many new, but the fact that it means we face constantly. Beautiful label, the original sign in the shop, the menu written on a blackboard interesting font - all examples of lettering. Do not forget about the greeting cards, prints on T-shirts, logos ...
Lettering surrounds us everywhere. And you can learn how to create interesting compositions of letters. We tell where to start beginners and how to succeed in this kind of creativity.
What is a lettering
Lettering called drawing beautiful letters, and in this sense it can be compared with calligraphy. Indeed, and there and there goal - to get the original lettering, which would differ originality and uniqueness, reflecting the special mood. However, in lettering emphasis is still on the drawing, it is closer to fine art than to the letter.
The artworks
For a long time, "drawing a letter" was just one of many creative directions. But in the XXI century, it rapidly evolved into an independent, popular and very well-paid activity. And you can be sure that this trend will not take place immediately. While there is a need in the original version of the text will need and Letterer, ie experts in work with letters.
Where to begin
Most people think that it makes no sense to take up drawing the letters, if you can not devote to this task at least a few hours a day. In fact it is not. The main thing - to engage in regularly, Even for 5 minutes a day. These classes do more good than an hour once a week.
A distinctive feature of the lettering in the fact that it is not necessary to have a basic art education for him. It would be sufficient initial drawing skills and 5-30 minutes of time on a daily basis.
Of course, the deal will bring success faster if you do not have your own to learn the basics and to fill the cones. Therefore, those who already know how to draw in scoring, has an idea of composition, perspective, color combinations, and so on. But this all is quite possible to learn, so the lack of professional artistic skills should not stop you.
Lettering - an ideal activity for beginners, and here's why:
- As it is much easier to make progress than in any other form of art.
- It does not require sophisticated skills, because to be a beautiful composition of the letters do not need to be able to sculpt or paint plaster head of a cheetah in a jump.
- There are clear rules of drawing up letters of the compositions, and to the commercial success of your work simply stick to them.
- Within a month of regular exercise you will notice significant growth of skill.
For these reasons, you can succeed in the lettering and without a creative education. There are several Letterer, whose names are known all over the world, such as Stefan Kuntz (Stefan Kunz) and Lauren Hom (Lauren Hom). The skills they acquired on their own, and their example - the best motivation for those who doubt yourself and your abilities.
Where and how to learn
It is better to start with a copy-book - it will "get the hand", learn the basic techniques and moves. And then connect the imagination, study the works of other authors (eg, Behance), And experiment!
Children's recipe for training will not work, because the harmonious in terms of writing letter lettering is often different from what we were taught in school. The lettering each letter should look appealing composition, so it is worth paying attention to the special recipe for the modern lettering, which can be found on the Internet.
If the occupation drags you and you realize that you want to master it, it makes sense to enroll in online courses. Most beginners Letterer need to be evaluated from the outside, because it is very hard to see yourself limitations his works. And in the process of training, you not only get acquainted with new techniques, but also learn to see mistakes and correct them.
Of great importance is a sense of style and personal taste. They will come only with experience, so exercise regularly and be guided by the masters, whose works are original, interesting and, most importantly, demand.
What are the necessary tools
The choice of tools and materials depends on what goal you set. For example, for drawing letters for personal use (for example, to design postcards to friends) does not make sense to spend money on expensive professional tools. And if you want to create high-quality projects for commercial purposes, of course, need to invest in the best materials.
On the other hand, if you at least once try to draw high-quality pencil or a brush, you will feel the difference immediately. Work with good materials is much more pleasant and comfortable, and the result immediately becomes much better.
The minimum set that is needed to begin to draw for themselves:
- Soft simple pencil. It is best to take 2B, but if you like to press for drawing, we can restrict HB or B (bold lines harder to erase, they leave a trace on paper.
- Eraser. It is desirable soft, so that it is well cleaned pencil and smeared it.
- Paper - you can take a regular office, plotting or buy an album for drawing.
- Colored markers, pencils or pens. We need to trace the contours and paint.
Professional kit is useful to those who want to create a competitive design or draw the letters on the highest level. It includes:
- Soft pencil. Again, those who do not like much pressure, suitable 2B, and if you draw with pressure, it is better to take a more solid.
- Eraser. It is important that he was very gentle and leaves no residue. Many illustrators use kneaded eraser that does not scratch the paper work and the result looks neat and presentable.
- Liners. We need to trace the contours. For fans fit thick lines 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2, more subtle Liners are marked 0.2, 0.3, 0.5. Universal recommendations regarding Liners not: choose those with whom you work comfortably.
- Windlass with two lugs. It is a tool at one end of which is a marker, and the other - the brush. Marker can do circuit or paint letters, and the second tip is perfect for those who have mastered brush-lettering, that is, drawing a brush letters.
- Windlass with one tip-brush. This tool is more difficult to master than the previous one, with it difficult to control the writing, it requires a higher skill and therefore not suitable for beginners. However, it needs it, if you want to create a trendy today the letter, in which there is a very thick and thin lines.
- Paper. Its density should be not less than 80 g / m², that is suitable for ordinary office printer sheets.
This tool is not universal list. Each letterer eventually realizes what it is more convenient to work and collect your own set of favorite tools. However, for a better start to use this list.
How to make money on the lettering
The success of the lettering defined business benefits that it brings. Oddly enough, but the beauty - this is not important for successful sales. It is necessary that the works were in demand, and for this it is important to create a primarily trendy things.
The main principles of successful lettering:
- conciseness of the composition;
- minimalism;
- follow trends.
If the first two work enough with the experience, the second - the result of careful market research, works of popular Letterer and analysis are sold and popular songs.
it is very important for successful sales know at least some of the principles of functioning of the market. Many Letterer succeeded only because their first profession was linked to the economy, advertising or sales. Using their knowledge, they were able to express themselves correctly and attract customers.
The artworks
Selling work in two fundamentally different ways:
- through social networks or your own website;
- microstock - sites where anyone puts for sale their works.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Let us examine them in detail.
How to sell works through social networks or your site
This option requires action on promotion.
- Define your target audience. To do so, the area in which you will do, for example, the creation of labels for t-shirts and greeting cards or work on the brand logo.
- Create a unique selling proposition - something that will differentiate you from the competition.
- Work on image. Collaborate with other bloggers, participate in special activities or run a master class.
- Create a portfolio and it is regularly updated. Potential customers need to know what you can do.
Benefits
- You work directly with clients is convenient: you do not need to anticipate the desires of abstract potential buyer, he will tell your customer exactly what he wants.
- Correctly tuned Advertising in social networks can bring you fame, especially if placed it in popular blogs and identify your target audience properly.
disadvantages
- blog promotion in social networks requires the active participation and financial investments, it is not passive income.
- Almost always, the success depends on the visual appeal of the blog, and your advertising activity - without it will not be able to attract the customer.
How to sell through microstock
Microstock - universal base for selling your art products, as they are presented, and the wizard with the name, and start-Letterer. These sites do not impose high requirements for the performance, so even beginners can successfully earn their compositions.
- Sign up for one or more sites (Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Depositphotos and others), read the work placement rules (resolution, quality, to the profile of requirements).
- Load the work and wait for buyers.
Benefits
- This is a relatively passive income: every job can be sold many times as you want to buy it, so theoretically the income from it is unlimited.
- Microstock does not require your constant presence, advertising and so on.
- This kind of business is complete without material investments.
disadvantages
- First-time profit grows very slowly.
- Microstock high competition, so you need to constantly improve and to monitor trends.
- The work involves a flexible schedule, which means that you will be required good self-organization. It is necessary to regularly update the portfolio, develop new directions, to develop his own style, which will attract buyers.
Ideally, good to combine both methods of monetization: the pros and cons cancel each other and allow you to establish stable regular sales. Concentrating on something one, you are missing the opportunities that gives another option.
In any case, get ready for the fact that the instant results will not be. Perhaps the first months of earnings from the microstock will be minimal, and the social network will require investments in promotion. Be patient. When everything is working, you will see how this is a profitable business.
conclusion
New trends are always attractive and easy to monetize. Lettering, despite its novelty, it has a huge advantage: it does not lose its relevance over the years, so it makes sense to invest time and effort in its development.
see also🎨
- 25 ideas for a new hobby, and 50 resource-mates
- How to start to draw, if you have never done it
- 15 hobbies that can generate revenue