ANALYZING PRINTING

•The Nature of Printing

•The Meaning of Printing
•The Analysis of Printing
•Types of Printing (Manuscript/ Print script, Block Printing, Mixed
Printing and Cursive)
•Connectedness in Printing
•Interpretation Of Connectedness
•Speed in Printing
•Interpretation Of Speed
•Differences Between Printing and Writing
 Nature of Printing
• Printing is defined as a form of written communication in
which the letters are disconnected and primarily consist
of downstrokes (i.e., 90%). Printing is actually simplified
writing reflecting economy of motion. Children are taught
to print during their first lessons in written
communication.
• The downstrokes of printing which move towards the
body (i.e., moving towards self) correspond to the self-
centeredness and lack of empathy characteristic of
children who are immature. As they mature, however,
many people decide that they prefer to use printing
rather than cursive writing
 The Meaning of Printing
Printing is essentially mechanical, so
printers are usually more interested in
things than in people. They can be
described as logical, mathematical,
mechanical, and/or constructive. The
vertical slant found in many printing
samples is associated with emotional
control and lack of empathy. See Slant
 The Analysis of Printing
Printing is analyzed by understanding the fundamentals
of printing and applying graphological rules to the printed
script. Using the three zones of writing as a common
ground, the first step is to establish middle zone size. If
the printer uses lower case letters as well as upper case
letters (see Manuscript/Printscript), middle zone size can
be determined in the same way as it is measured in a
cursive writing sample. Once middle zone size is
established, then upper zone extension height and lower
loop length (both of which are relative to middle zone
size ) can also be ascertained.
 Type Of Printing
• Manuscript/Printscript
• Block Printing
• Mixed Printing and Cursive
 Manuscript/ Print script
This type of printing uses all three writing zones, and there is no difference between
manuscript/ print script and cursive writing when it comes to determining the size of
the three zones.
 
Manuscript uses a form similar to that found in book manuscripts.

Printscript is an even simpler form taught in the elementary grades using

"circles and sticks."
 Block Printing
• Block printing uses one zone only. Most often used by those in
professions such as architecture, engineering, drafting, and
commercial art, block printing can also be evidenced in every
business that demands clear communication, whether it be on
blueprints, posters or directives. This style, however, poses a
problem for analysts when they attempt to measure the size and
extension of the three zones.

• drawing a baseline and one more line through the cross bars of
letters such as A, E, F, H, K, P and R, two zones are created. The
distance from the baseline to this bar corresponds closely to the
middle zone size of the same writer's cursive writing. Also, the
sample's cursive upper zone extension height relates favorably to
the distance above the bar.
 Block Printing

Measurement of the lower zone, however, is more difficult. Note the

proportion between the two zones you have just estimated, especially in
the letters which would ordinarily extend into the lower zone such as "F",
"G", "P", and "Y". If the cross bar seems to be high (see Example 2), one
could estimate that this writer's lower zone would be rather long. If the
cross bar is close to the baseline (see Example 3), the lower loop length
is apt to be relatively short. The confidence of this assessment can be
strengthened by evaluating an additional sample of cursive writing from
the same individual.
 Block Printing
Example 1. Three zones balanced

Example 2. Short upper zone, large middle zone, normal to long lower zone

Example 3. Tall upper zone, short middle zone, normal to short lower zone
Mixed Printing and Cursive
Before analyzing any printed handwriting samples, check whether
the script is actually printing. Often, in order to speed up the printing
process, a writer will mix cursive combinations with printed downs
trokes. While this too can be analyzed, the graphologist must be
aware of the combination of these forms in order to synthesize them
correctly. A writer who uses both printing and cursive writing has the
ability to adapt to the demands of either style, which reflects
emotional versatility and adaptability.
 Connectedness in Printing
• Physiological studies by Reiger (1903), and later by Pophal (1939),
demonstrated a difference in the neural processes of connected and
disconnected writing. The sequential movement found in connected writing
arises from a single nerve action which uses less energy than the separate
motions of stopping and starting found in disconnected writing. An average
adult writer interrupts the flow of writing at a syllable, stopping three or four
times in a long word. This is typical, and represents a medium degree of
connectedness (i.e., yielding a score of 5 on a 1-to-10 point rating scale).
• Cursive writing is based on a quick, continuous writing movement. Klara
Roman says, "Printscript, as far as connectedness appears... must be
considered in different terms... Each letter, almost by definition, is set down
as a separate or detached entity, and it calls for a writing movement that
requires constant interruption between letters. However, printscript may
show joinings within words when the writing has been done at great speed,
in which case a continuity of movement comparable to that found in cursive
writing is revealed. Thus in printscript, as in cursive, the trend toward
connectedness increases with speed and decreases when the forms are
slowly and carefully traced."
 Connectedness in Printing
Connectedness in printing is enhanced when there is a definite separation of
the words, plus a consistent spacing between letters (normally spacing
between words is twice the middle zone size ).
 Connectedness in Printing
In disconnected printing, spaces between letters are wide and spaces between
words are undefined
Interpretation Of Connectedness
• Well-connected writings and printings usually indicate a personality
who is practical, logical and sometimes literal in their world view.
The person probably mixes easily in a group under ordinary
circumstances, but may lack the intuition to sense when a change of
attitude or behavior is required.
• Disconnected printing or writing reveals the less logical personality.
Reasoning is more apt to be cumulative, relying on a step-by-step
process for daily problem solving. The ability to use past
experiences automatically incorporates emotion and intuition into
decision-making. Whether the writer's intuition is correct or incorrect,
jumping to right or wrong conclusions, depends on other factors in
the writing.
• The continuity of the writer's pen movement from left to right,
outward from self towards others, reflects the individual's method of
contact in personal relationships.
 Speed In Printing
• Some printers claim that they can print faster than they can write cursively.
This perception might be derived, in part, from the writer's increased
familiarity with and ability to recall printed letter forms more readily than
cursive letter forms. An additional factor in this perception of increased
printing speed relative to cursive writing may be that such writers can
synchronize their motor movements with their mental processes to better
formulate what they want to write (actually slowing down their fingers to
support their concentrative thinking processes). When motor movements
and mental processes are synchronized by slowing finger actions, the
smoothness of the printing process is perceived by the writer as if it were
faster, when in actuality, it is slower.
• Speed in printing involves evaluation of the same indicators the analyst
looks for in cursive writing. However, the very fact that printing requires the
pen to be lifted from the paper in separate strokes will automatically reduce
the speed. Sometimes a writer will emphasize a thought by firmly printing
one word within a body of cursive writing. This detracts from the
smoothness and speed of the communication.
 Speed In Printing
• Evidence of speed in printing can be found in the form of "feathered"
strokes. Parts of printed letters such as K or E which disconnect
from the basic letter form indicate speed and carelessness. "i" dots
and "t" crosses that are placed to the right of the letter show speed.
The impatience of dynamic writers often creates tics and hooks. See
"i" Dot Centering and "t" Cross Laterality.
• Generally speaking, printing does not lend itself easily to thready
forms. Great speed may cause the middle zone letters to break
down into illegible forms, which would indicate thready carelessness
and a tendency to dissimilate. Occasionally, a diminishing middle
zone size would indicate the type of thread writing that is interpreted
as tact and diplomacy. As a rule, however, the slow execution of
printed letters inhibits the formation of thread-like strokes
 Interpretation Of Speed
Speed in printing must be interpreted with less
emphasis than speed in cursive writing because
of the natural reduction of speed in the physical
effort of lifting the pen for each stroke.
Nevertheless, quick, controlled printing still
reveals the quick, controlled mind associated
with a good intellect and sound reasoning
powers. In like manner, overcontrol slows down
the production of written communication and
reflects the slowness of the writer's information
processing.
Differences Between Printing
and Writing
• Some comparisons between printing and cursive writing
samples yield significant differences, while other
comparisons show nearly identical graphological
features. The analysis will be significantly different if
changes occur in even one or two areas.
• For example, in printing, where slant is often vertical, it is
difficult to know whether the writing will also be vertical -
or how slanted (or variable) or simplified it will be.
Similarly, the upper zones and lower zones often show
differences in length, width, and trend from one mode to
the other.
Differences Between Printing
and Writing
In the example below, the written sample shows more intensity, greater right
slant, more leftward trend in the lower zone, extended upper zones and lower
zones, tighter writing, letters close together and narrow, less space between
words, and fluctuating "t" bars. These discrepancies between printing and writing
reveal a more active, less objective, less analytical person.
 Differences Between Printing
and Writing
In the following example, the analysis would be virtually identical using both
printing and cursive samples.

If printing and cursive writing samples were nearly always similar or dissimilar, then
consistent analytical rules could be applied. However, as the foregoing samples
demonstrate, writers can vary widely in the similarities or differences they reveal between
their printed and cursive handwritings. This variability can be problematic, and the solution
rests in being able to obtain both printed and written samples from the same writer at the
same time.