The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives

definite thick and thin strokes on a smooth surface, is
perfectly adapted to the construction of either simple
or compound forms; other tools, such as the stylus,
needle, graver, biz., produce various scratches, stitches,
or cuts, generally of the nature of rather varying thin
strokes, and to produce thick strokes a building-up
process is required.

In making built-up forms the control exerted by
the tool is less obvious, and more depends upon the
craftsman, who must therefore use greater care and
judgment. Not only is it possible, but, occasion¬
ally, it may be desirable to depart from the more
obvious tool-forms; though generally the more
simply and naturally tool-made a form is, the better
it is.

The fine early inscriptions are supposed to have
been first drawn or painted (in outline) and then
cut into the stone. The chisel forms were doubt¬
less affected in this way by brush (and indirectly
by pen) forms, but these were of the simplest—no¬
thing was sketched in that was unfitted for the
chisel to make into a natural and true chisel-form.

The action of the brush or “pencil” to a certain
extent resembles that of the pen, but their effects
are really distinct. In contrasting pen-made and
brush-made letters, we may observe that a pen form
tends to abrupt changes from thin to thick: a brush form
to gradation (fig. 164). The pen particularly affects
curved strokes {comp, a Si b), generally making them
more quick and abrupt (or even broken, see * * с),
than brush curves. The brush will give more
graceful and finished but less uniform letters (see
P- З40).

The character of a pen-letter depends greatly
on the nib-width (p. 288), and narrow, medium,
256

10X0

Simple-written PEN curves

id.)

BRUSH-mabe

The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives

Fig. 164.

or broad nibs are used according to the type of letter
required.

A narrow nib may be used for special (built-up)
Initials and Capitals, which are drawn rather than
written {a, fig. 165). The horizontal arms (made
by the pen held horizontally) are markedly affected,
and if a very fine nib were used, the necessity of
strengthening and thickening them would tend
further to reduce the pen character.

A broad nib gives strong, uniform pen-letters
(b).

For ordinary use letters are perhaps best made
with a “medium” nib (c). The width of the

257