Comments on: The Purpose and Techniques of Calligraphy

The Purpose and Techniques of Calligraphy

netbros — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 07:31:35 -0800

The Art of Hermann Zapf film "was produced in 1967 at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City and in my design studio in Dreieichenhain, Germany... After long discussions and the help of a lot of alcohol we started late in the night. I was sitting at a slanted glass table with a hot spotlight in my neck. Frank Robinson was lying on the floor with the camera ready for a frog-view shot. My task was to write beautiful letters with ink which dried as soon the pen touched the slippery surface of an astralon sheet." — Hermann Zapf

By: Slothrop

Slothrop — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:16:50 -0800

Very interesting video - I may show it to some of my design students. I get a real nostalgic feel from the late 60s early 70s, which were still bouncing around in my youth. Zapf's handwriting is quite beautiful as well!

By: Kadin2048

Kadin2048 — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:20:10 -0800

Very neat. Does anyone know whether the computer hardware they show towards the end of the reel are actually related to phototypesetting? Or is it just stock shots of blinkey lights and punchcards?

By: ReeMonster

ReeMonster — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:36:55 -0800

The man who invented Optima and Palatino and numerous other fonts..

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:05:50 -0800

Kadin...Just blinky lights and stock footage.

By: scruss

scruss — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:28:44 -0800

Zapf's no dingbat.

By: OneMonkeysUncle

OneMonkeysUncle — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:31:51 -0800

Great find, thanks, netbros. Inspiring.

By: ethnomethodologist

ethnomethodologist — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:59:16 -0800

How would "a lot of alcohol" help you work "late in the night"?

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:30:44 -0800

Gives you courage, especially in the face of difficult odds.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:45:52 -0800

It fortifies! Have you ever had a huge project in front of you, wanted to push through until five, six AM, and discovered you had NO BEER? THE WORST. Even if it's just sitting on the table untouched because you're so engrossed in your work, it's there. Just there for you.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:49:02 -0800

I've seen Zapf in relation to type and fonts for decades, but never realized that it referred to a single typographer.

By: girih knot

girih knot — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:58:45 -0800

The man who ~~invented~~ designed Optima and Palatino and numerous other ~~fonts~~ typefaces.. FTFY

By: Jumpin Jack Flash

Jumpin Jack Flash — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:03:18 -0800

related: I used to enjoy Abraham Lincoln's shows on this subject.

By: SkinnerSan

SkinnerSan — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:44:58 -0800

I was struck by the quality of the show itself. The voiceover was perfect, in its way. Until the more modern equipment at the end, the whole production was masterful. Nothing to spare, everything they wanted to convey.

By: rmmcclay

rmmcclay — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:07:30 -0800

Great to see the master at work.

By: aesacus

aesacus — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:42:30 -0800

Watching his natural precision was really relaxing

By: DU

DU — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:59:04 -0800

Really great. Although I must admit that I had a little flash of "what a hipster" when he mentioned he used "handmade" paper and especially that he not only mixes his own ink but does so with rainwater.