Comments on: Lettering vs Calligraphy

Lettering vs Calligraphy

Sailormom — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:59:55 -0800

Lettering vs Calligraphy: an epic battle you decide.

Lettering vs Calligraphy is a project by Giuseppe Salerno and Martina Flor. It consists of a visual dialogue between a letterer and a calligrapher, where they draw/write a letter responding to a keyword given by a moderator. The adventure aims to explore the capabilities of the two technical approaches. It delivers one letter daily and takes place online, where the visitors are invited to vote for their favourite.

By: Foci for Analysis

Foci for Analysis — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:10:22 -0800

Wait, what is the difference between lettering and calligraphy?

By: rahnefan

rahnefan — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:46:43 -0800

Drawing versus writing, with a blurry line between, basically. The lettered "Roman L" is getting a lot more votes than it ought...

By: rahnefan

rahnefan — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:52:33 -0800

Not to dis the lettered L - but the circles evoke DaVinci or Dürer, but with a modern typeface for the numbers, whereas the written L just is what it is with almost no props (marbled background).

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:08:13 -0800

Are we supposed to simply pick the one we find most attractive? Or pick the one we feel is the best solution to the title above the examples?

By: Artw

Artw — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:09:29 -0800

Heh. I think "Letterer" and I think Tom Frame, Todd Klein et al...

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:36:52 -0800

I went and voted without knowing what the difference was between lettering and calligraphy, and first I thought it was one thing (font design vs. hand-executing fonts), and then I thought it was another thing (digital vs. ink), and then I thought it was a third thing (illustrated, gussied up letters vs just letters), and then I read Foci for Analysis's links and now I think maybe I'm still wrong. But I might not be, either.

By: rahnefan

rahnefan — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:37:28 -0800

Thorzdad I think they want the latter but I think most voters just went with the one they like most.

By: rahnefan

rahnefan — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:40:40 -0800

One big difference is that with most of lettering, revision is quick and easy; but with calligraphy, you either get it right the first time or you have to start over. Depending on the medium used for the lettering, which seems mostly digital here.

By: redsparkler

redsparkler — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:13:14 -0800

I think it's unfair that they get to use different color backgrounds. One "x", for example, should have the same color background as the other "X." Adding color to the letter itself seems acceptable, but again, I think the basic elements should be the same in order to let the shape of the forms stand out.

By: xicana63

xicana63 — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:21:20 -0800

I am a big fan of Jessica Hische's lettering, but chalk will always be the best medium for lettering hands down!

By: acetonic

acetonic — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:00:15 -0800

I'm just getting a blank Wordpress template with "Hello world" This is not the debate I was looking for!

By: Rashomon

Rashomon — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:03:03 -0800

My mother was a calligrapher so I lean toward favoring that. But the high quality of calligraphy comes out better when words and sentences are presented as opposed to just one letter. The reason is because the relation of one letter to another is an important part of the design. I suppose you could say that about lettering too. Let's just say I like to see more than one letter.