2. LETTERING – refers to the process by which letters and numbers are formed through writing in composition
composition to printing through the use of machine and devices.
1. PICTOGRAPHIC – the first form of writing used pictures.
2. IDEOGRAPHIC –after years, these drawings became more symbolic and meaningful.
3. PHONECTIC – later on, these drawings were merely used as models.
4000 BCE – the very first alphabet was originated in ancient Egypt.
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF LETTERS
CHRONOLOGY
3. 1050 BCE – the Greeks adapted the Phoenician and Assyrian alphabets and were responsible for the
expansion of 22 consonants.
700 BCE – the Ancient Greeks changed this form of writing into what they called boustrophedon writing.
They borrowed the system and ultimately developed an alphabet of 22 letters.
200 BCE – the Romans introduced the 23 letters of the present-day alphabet which became the basis of
present-day letters of the Roman alphabet except for letters J and U which not in the Old Roman
alphabet.
800 BCE – lowercase letters were used and called Carolingian letters.
350 CE – Roman cursive led the way to the more fluid appearance. It is done in single stroke instead of the
buildup method.
1100-1400 BCE – Old English letters were used, the hand used by the Anglo Saxons.
1200 -1500 BCE –the modern “technology” for Gothic includes the use of majuscule initials which have
elaborations at the end of the strokes.
4. 1140 BCE-800 CE – this is the period of Humanistic Hand Handwriting that developed during Renaissance
period.
1850-1940 – Roundhand Script was introduced in the United State, as influenced by the French aristocracy.
1890 – san Serif which means “without serif” was introduced.
1945 – Americans introduced cartoon script.
1. GOTHIC LETTERS – uniform width elements.
2. ROMAN LETTERS – all letters in this style have accented strokes made up of thin and thick elements.
LETTER STYLES
5. 3. TEXT LETTERS – these include all styles of old English text, church text, block text, German text.
4. ITALIC LETTERS – these are slanting letters used in the headings of newspapers, columns and in
advertisement.
5. SCRIPT LETTERS – these are composed of script elements. These are used making wedding invitations,
diplomas and certificates and Christmas cards.
1. HORIZONTAL GUIDELINES – these are used to keep the letters uniform in height.
A. CAPLINE – this is the uppermost horizontal guideline drawn for uppercase and letters with strokes
that extend upward known as the ascender.
B. WAISTLINE – this is a horizontal guideline drawn between the capline and the baseline used to
determine the general height of lowercase letters.
GUIDELINES IN LETTERING
6. C. BASELINE –this is a horizontal guideline where all the letters rest or stand.
D. DROPLINE – this is a horizontal guideline drawn for letter with strokes that extend downward known
known as the descender.
2. VERTICAL GUIDELINES – these are light lines which help keep the letters uniformly vertical.
3. INCLINED GUIDELINES – these are light lines used to guide the inclination of inclined letter.
1. NORMAL LETTERS – these are used if the space where the letters are to be printed or lettered is simple.
2. COMPRESSED/CONDENSED LETTERS – these are used if the space for lettering is narrow.
3. EXTENDENDED LETTERS – these are used if the space for lettering is very wide.
GENERAL PROPORTION OF LETTERS
7. .
1. CRONOLOGY – the determination of the proper sequence of past events.
2. HIEROGLYPHICS – form of writing, especially as used in ancient Egypt, in which pictures or
symbols are used to represent objects, concept or sounds.
3. UPPERCASE – capital letters
4. LOWERCASE – small leters
5. SERIF – a smaller line used to finish off a main stroke of a letter.
TECHNICAL TERMS
