MODULE 2: LETTERING AS THE WRITTEN LANGUAGE OF THE INDUSTRY

Learning Objectives
At the end of the module students should be able to:
1. Define Lettering
2. Use guidelines in lettering.
3. Use and apply proportions of letters.
4. Apply good composition in lettering.

Lettering is the process by which letters and numbers are formed in freehand. It is considered as the
written language of the industry. Letterings supplies the information necessary to make drawing
understandable and the execution of its purposes possible.

Importance of Letters
• It adds other information which the regular orthographic or pictorial views can’t show.
• It is the written language of the industry.
• It records ideas.
• It helps transmit these ideas from one person to another.

Letter Styles
1. GOTHIC or SINGLE-STROKE LETTER these are letters having the elementary strokes or stems of even
width or thicknesses. Single-stroke means that each stem of letter is made with one stroke of the pencil
or pen and this is the standard letter style used in engineering drawing. This type of letter can be made
with speedball pen style A or B.

1.1 Classification of Single-Stroke Letters

1.1.1 Single-Stroke Vertical Upper Case Letters.

A B C D E
1.1.2 Single-Stroke Vertical Lower Case Letter

a b c d e
1.1.3 Single-Stroke Incline Upper Case

A B C D E
1.1.4 Single-Stroke Incline Lower Case

a b c d e
2. ROMAN LETTERS. All letters having strokes “accented” or consisting of heavy and light lines. This is
made with style C and D speedball pen.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee
3. ITALIC LETTERS. All slanting or inclined letters are classified as italics. This may be further designated
asRoman Italics or Gothic Italics.

Aa Bb Cc Aa Bb Cc
4. TEXT LETTERS. This term includes all styles of Old English, German Text, Bradley Text, or others of
various trade names. This is made with speedball style C or D.

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee
5. SCRIPT LETTERS. Also known as the ordinary handwriting where letters in a word are joined together.

Script Letters
Need for Guidelines
A good draftsman never letter without guidelines. Guidelines are drawn very fine and very light.
Guidelines are used to limit the height of letters and numbers.

CLASSIFICATION OF GUIDELINES
1. Light Vertical or Inclined Guidelines keep letters uniformly vertical or inclined. They should be drawn
at random across the paper.

2. Light Horizontal Guidelines regulates the height of letters.

ascenders

DJFIGTadjfigt
Cap Line
Waist Line

Base Line
Drop Line
descenders
Classes of Small Letters
1. Ellipse Letters - c e o s
2. Hook letters - h u r m n y
3. Straight Line - t v w x l j i z
4. Loop Letters - a d b p g q
General Proportion of Letters. Single-Stroke Gothic Letters may be written in three proportions.
1. Normal Letters used if the space for lettering is ample or enough.

NORMAL
2. Compressed Letters if the space is narrow
3. Extended if the space is wide.

Proportion of Normal Letters. The upper case letters may be grouped according to their widths as
follows:
1. Narrowest and foundation stroke of all letters “I”
2. Widest Letter (7:6) “W”
3. Second Widest (6:6) O Q M
4. Third Widest (5:6) A C D G K V X Y
5. Average Width (4:6)
Performance Task#1: (HAVE THIS PAGE PRINTED ON AN A4 BOND PAPER AND DO THE REQUIRED
TASK, TAKE PICTURE OF THE FINISHED ACTIVITY AND SEND TO YOUR TRAINER VIA EMAIL)
Blueprint Reading Problem
The legibility of engineering lettering for either formal drawing or quick sketches is enhanced by
adherence to standard letter forms. Since industry is divided about equally in its preference for vertical or
incline4d lettering, it is well to be familiar with both types.

Requirements: Print each letter 5 times. Letters should start and end in at space indicated.

E F H
I L T
A K M
N V W
X Y Z
C G O
Q B D
J P R
S U 0
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
Requirements: Print each letter 5 times. Letters should start and end in at space indicated.

E F H
I L T
A K M
N V W
X Y Z
C G O
Q B D
J P R
S U 0
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
Performance Task#2:
(HAVE THIS PAGE PRINTED ON AN A4 BOND PAPER AND DO THE REQUIRED TASK, TAKE PICTURE OF THE
FINISHED ACTIVITY AND SEND TO YOUR TRAINER VIA EMAIL)
Blueprint Reading Problem: Given below is a set of rules concerning FORMS, PROPORTION, and
SPACING of letters and words. Copy the stated rules using all UPPER CASE LETTERS. First read all rules
carefully. Then draw light 5mm guidelines with a sharp hard pencil. Use a sharp soft or medium pencil for
lettering. Use vertical or inclined lettering as assigned by your trainer.
GUIDELINES SHOULD GUIDELINES SHOULD
START HERE END HERE
IF LETTER PROPORTIONS ARE CAREFULLY OBSERVED

YOU SHOULD HAVE NOT LESS THAN SEVEN NOR MORE

THAN EIGHT LETTERS AND OR SPACES PER INCH.

ALL LETTERS EXCEPT I AND W ARE EQUAL WIDTH.

W IS WIDER THAN M BECAUSE M HAS PARALLEL LEGS.

A COMMON FAULT IS LEAVE TOO MUCH SPACE

BETWEEN LETTERS AND NOT ENOUGH BETWEEN WORDS.

OPEN AREAS BETWEEN LETTERS IN A WORD ARE EQUAL.

LEAVE ABOUT ONE LETTER WIDTH BETWEEN WORDS.

KEEP SLOPE UNIFORM. LETTERS TOUCH GUIDELINES.

A GOOD DRAFTSMAN NEVER LETTER WITHOUT GUIDELINES