The Anatomy of Procreate Lettering Guides

Are you exploring calligraphy as a new hobby? Or perhaps you’re an avid fan who wants to know more details about the craft? You might have seen lettering guides and templates around then!

A Procreate calligraphy template is a digital tool that helps you create beautiful, handwritten lettering using the Procreate app. It provides you with helpful guidelines to assist you in creating professional-looking calligraphy. Using a template is a great way to get started with calligraphy, especially if you're new to the art form and want to practice your skills.

If you're new to using Procreate Lettering guides, you might be wondering how to use them to create unique designs. No worries, it's actually really easy! In this blog, we will discuss the different parts of a calligraphy guide and a quick overview of what they’re used for!

Ready your pen and tablet and let’s get started!

Basics of Lettering

Before anything else, you’ll need basic knowledge of the art of calligraphy. Lucky for us, we actually went over this in a previous blog- here, we go over the common Procreate Lettering Do's and Don'ts. We also go over the different brushes you might consider such as our extensive Artistic Lettering Brushes pack that includes over 140 brushes and a bunch of bonus content to kickstart your journey!

Procreate Lettering Guides

So, you want to practice lettering but why do you need guides?

Well, lettering guides are a fantastic way to improve your calligraphy skills and create more cohesive, visually appealing compositions. Some lettering guides include practice sheets with different styles of alphabet letters, so you can try out different approaches and see what works best for you. Other guides may offer tips on how to space and align your letters, as well as suggestions for different lettering styles or compositions.

The purpose of lettering guides is to give you the tools and guidance you need to create beautiful, professional-looking calligraphy. So if you're feeling a bit stuck or just want to improve your skills, don't be afraid to refer to your lettering guides and see what helpful insights they have to offer!

Type of Lettering Guides

There are many different types of Procreate lettering guides available, so you're sure to find one that fits your needs and preferences. Here are a few examples:

1. Practice sheets‍

These guides include alphabet examples in different styles, so you can practice your lettering and see what works best for you.

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2. Composition guides‍

These guides offer suggestions and examples for creating visually appealing compositions with your lettering, such as how to balance text and negative space or how to incorporate elements like flourishes or banners.

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3. Alphabet Guides

These guides provide detailed examples of each letter in a particular style, along with tips on how to form each letter correctly.

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Anatomy of Lettering Guides

Typically, the main templates you will be using will have 6 lines, and each line has a name and function, they are as follows:

1. Baseline: This is the line that letters sit on. It helps you keep your letters evenly spaced and aligned.
2. X-height: This is the height of the lowercase letters in a font. It helps you keep your letters evenly spaced and aligned.
3. Cap height: This is the height of the capital letters in a font. It helps you keep your letters evenly spaced and aligned.
4. Descender line: This is the line where the tails of certain letters, like "p" or "g," extend below. It helps you keep your letters evenly spaced and aligned.
5. Ascender line: This is the line that the stems of certain letters, like "b" or "h," extend above. It helps you keep your letters evenly spaced and aligned.
6. Kerning: This is the space between individual letters. It helps you create a cohesive, visually appealing composition.

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Procreate Lettering guides often follow a default ratio for the spacing and angle of the lines but as you explore more, you’ll find that these ratios are entirely up to you, you can change them to however you like or whichever will help your chosen style. These are guides, not rules— you have complete creative freedom!

There you have it! Procreate lettering guides are a convenient, customizable, and efficient way to improve your calligraphy skills and create beautiful, even compositions. So don't be afraid to try one out and see how it can enhance your calligraphy journey!

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