Chapter 2: LETTERING
OBJECTIVES:
1. The importance of constructing guidelines.
2. The elements of letters in the alphabet
3. The correct proportions of letters in relation to their height and width
4. Why the upper portions of some letters are reduced slightly in size.
LETTERING – used in mechanical drawing is a simple, freehand form called single-
stroke gothic. It was formulated in the late 19th century when C.W. Reinhardt worked
out a series of strokes for each letter of the alphabet based on Gothic letters.
The expression single-stroke means that the widths of the straight and curved
lines that form the letters are the same width as the stroke of the pen or pencil.
GUIDELINES – to attain uniform height of the letters, extremely light horizontal
guidelines called CAPITAL LINE, WAIST LINE, BASE LINE and DROP LINE. In addition,
light vertical and inclined lines are drawn at random to keep the letters uniformly
vertical or inclined. Guidelines are absolutely essential for good lettering.
Capital line
Waist line
Base line
Drop line
STYLES OF LETTERS
There are two styles of letters, the vertical and slant as shown in the print
model at the end of this topic. The slant letters are inclined at approximately 72
degrees or with the ratio of 1:3 with one unit horizontal and three units vertical.
Vertical letters are constructed with an inclination of 90 degrees. The students should
therefore learn to execute both forms well and use the style they can execute with
greater ease.
Capital line
Waist line
Base line
Drop line
ELEMENTS OF LETTERS
The elements of letters in the alphabet are the STEM and OVAL.
The stem is the straight line of a letter that is drawn with a single downward stroke of
the hand. The two stem types are the short stem and the long stem.
l l
Vertical Slant
Properties of a good stem:
1. Stems must be perfectly straight
2. For slant letters it should be inclined at approximately 72 degrees or following
ratio 1:3. The exceptions to this rule are the letters V, X, W, and Z whose stems
should not be inclined at 72 degrees.
Capital line
Waist line
Base line
The oval is the element of a letter. They resemble ellipses. The oval is the
curved figure in a letter that is drawn with a single or double stroke of the hand.
O O O O
Properties of a good oval:
1. Ovals must be smooth and not pumpkin seed shaped. It should have no
appendages.
2. The centerline of ovals should be inclined at approximately 72 degrees or with
a ratio 1:3.
3. Ovals should be tangent to the guidelines.
4. The width of the ovals must be uniform all throughout.
5. Ovals can be drawn with either a single or double stroke of the hand.
ENGINEERING’S ALPHABET
The engineer’s alphabet consists of upper and lower-case letter.
1. UPPER CASE LETTERS – these consists of capital letters and numerals
The Methods of constructions are:
a. Parallelogram Method – used by beginners using the four guidelines.
b. Two-line Method – used by semi-skilled draftsman using horizontal guidelines
without slant or vertical guidelines.
c. Sight Method – used by skilled draftsman wherein letters are constructed
without guidelines.
2. LOWER CASE LETTERS – These are the small letters of the alphabet.
These letters are classified according to appearance:
a. Straight Letters – are pure stem letters such as i, k, l, t, x, w, v, z
b. Ellipse Letters – letters consisting of pure ovals such as c, e, s, o
c. Loop Letters – letters consisting of ovals and stems tangent to it. Draw the oval
first, then complete the letter with the stem tangent to it such as a, b, d, p, q
d. Hook Letters – letters consisting of ovals with a hook attached to it or letters
with kerns such as f, g, h, j, m, n, r.
DRAFTING PLATE 1
Project Title: VERTICAL LETTERING (CAPITAL ALPHABET ONLY)
Scale: 1:100 meters
Instruments to be used:
- T-square (24 inches) - Drawing Paper (A3 bond paper)
- Triangles 45x45 and 30x60 degrees - Masking Tape
- Pencil and Eraser - SIGN PEN OR PENTEL PEN
Instruction:
- Before you begin ask your instructor if a particular layout and a specific
type and size of paper are required.
- Fasten the drawing paper with the upper borderline aligned to the
working edge of the T-square.
- Draw the Capital letters alphabet in the given drawing paper with given
guidelines.
- Solve the problem given before you start the drawing plate.
DRAFTING PLATE 2
Project Title: SLANT LETTERING (CAPITAL ALPHABET ONLY)
Scale: 1:100 meters
Instruments to be used:
- T-square (24 inches) - Drawing Paper (A3 bond paper)
- Triangles 45x45 and 30x60 degrees - Masking Tape
- Pencil and Eraser
Instruction:
- Before you begin ask your instructor if a particular layout and a specific
type and size of paper are required.
- Fasten the drawing paper with the upper borderline aligned to the
working edged of the T-square.
- Draw the Capital letters alphabet in the given drawing paper with given
guidelines.
- Solve the problem given before you start the drawing plate.
- Follow the given measurements for Borderline & Title Blocks.
DRAWING INSTRUCTION:
- DRAW the border line and title blocks on A3 bond paper.
- From the center of the border line measured 1.00 meters using the scale
1:00 meters, draw a vertical lines and horizontal lines with a distance of
1.00 meter.
- After finished the vertical and horizontal line start the Alphabet letters from
A-Z, but follow the given boxes for each letters. (See Attached Sample)
GRADING PLATES
On time passing - Grade from 1.0 to 1.9
Late within minutes or hours – Grade from 2.0 to 3.0
Late for a Day – Grade 3.1 to 4.0 (failed)
RUBRICS
TOTAL
PROBLEM NEATNESS OF SPEED ON TIME SUBMISSION
PRESENTATION
SOLVING (40%) DRAWING (20%) (15%) (10%)
(15%)
Checked by: Date Checked: TOTAL GRADE:
MA. EMELYN B. MALINAO ______________
