how about a typeface project (with an in-class vernissage) for next week?

look at the borders of this 10th-century Canterbury manuscript 

dear class. the task is to design an illumined paragraph (a group of sentences in a block) in the style of illumined manuscripts. 

like this: 

with rubrication of an uncial (or capital) like this: 

please, observe the following guidelines: 

1. an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper. lined or blank. if lined preferably soft lines. 

 

2. think of a script that embodies your own aesthetics, that is, the way you'd execute "print" if you had all the time in the world.  

3. design your capitals (uncials) and minuscules (lower case). this is the time to choose either serif or sans-serif. don't mix them!

3. once you design your types, follow them! remember the whole thing needs to be as homogeneous as possible! practice obtaining a FLAWLESS execution. 

4. use a pen. ink is the closest to incunabula. felt tip? gel? ballpoint? fountain? up to you. 

imagine the sort of trace you want: thick? thin? (not too thin; not a legible option). smooth? a bit scratchy? keep in mind the thickness of your mark!  

 

5. as you practice each letter (by repeating it) think of each of its parts: leg, belly, spur, stem, spine, belly, loop, ascender, and descender. every detail of this design must be deliberate.

6. decoration: this is the most beautiful part. REMEMBER you leave the rubrication for last. leave space for your decoration.  

7. inserts: if your uncial has a bowl: "b" or "p" or "q" or "o" you may insert a motif inside it. 

 type parts: 

8. your printed text should exhibit cohesion and counterpoint. for your design think of a template: 

 

9. you may want to use ligatures, but you need to be consistent, for instance:

DO NOT IMPROVISE.

10. now comes an essential routine of  typography: kerning/leading

* think of kerning/tracking, or the spacing in between letters. 

choose the best space between your letters. 

* now, think of leading, or the suitable space between lines. 

typography has its own rules. the result is readability. you want each character to stand on its own and be a part of a community. 

11. think of your choice of leading (i.e., the space between lines). when you show your piece, I will ask you about your choices! 

(take a look at this helpful video to understand the difference between kerning, leading & tracking)

12. again! remember to leave space for your uncial or capital (this is the last design element of the composition).  

practice your rinceau (leafy or flowery, geometric, abstract, historical, or anything else in between). the rinceau is extremely important as this was the scribe's contribution to the manuscript.  

go ahead you scribes!