Lettering On Small Items? Can Anyone Help Please

[GaryMeaden]

Hi,
I'm not the best drawing artist in the world!! and I have awful problems drawing letters onto small metal items, I can draw nice letters and scrolls in large hand writing size but as I try and do really small letters I just end up with an untidy mess really, even if I try to draw under the microscope, I am new to this so any help would be really great.
Thank You Guy's................

 

[Ed Westerly]

The easiest way to get small letters (to a point) is to print them out from a computer and photocopy them backwards using transparencies and then transfer them to the object with acetone. There are how-tos in the tips catagory to teach you the process.

 

[GaryMeaden]

Thanks Bruce

 

[monk]

about the smallest i ever did was .o62" on a love token some time ago. the computer layout is one way to get the layout created. cutting is another thing. i was able to do this as i had just gotten a scope. without a scope, my vision wouldn't allow me to do this. practice on scrap before you do the real deal.

 

[Southern Custom]

It also gets much easier with practice. (I still don't like the tiny little buggers!)
Layne

 

[dlilazteca]

Enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUgvtqHYPPQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Carlos De La O III

 

[GaryMeaden]

Hi Carlos,
I finally tried your method WOW fantastic results thank you so much

Gary

 

[dlilazteca]

Gary

Glad it helped, there are other videos you might want to see

Carlos De La O III

 

[GaryMeaden]

Hi Thanks for all your help on this.....My first lettering LOL I think a lot more practise is needed...... First time uploading pic's so I hope it works

 

[GaryMeaden]

Please can you guide me to them..

Thanks

 

[GTJC460]

I would stick with one style lettering till you can do it without pause. My first choice would be engravers script. Learn to draw it and cut it. There is no better way to develop drawing ability and graver control. Lettering is the easiest thing for the average person to know and recognize good work.

As for a critique of your efforts...keep working at the script. It appears your cuts are very heavy and somewhat ragged. It appears to me that the lettering is a bit off. Some letters look larger or more spacing. Good script will be closely space, tight letters.

Take a look at the Art of Engraving and the Jewelry Engravers Handbook. Both offer excellent examples and methods for cutting and designing script lettering layouts.