Copperplate – Getting Started
Friday, January 30th, 2009
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Filed under: Copperplate, Starting Calligraphy
Copperplate looks like it is written at speed because the letters are joined (cursive). In fact Copperplate needs to be written very slowly. Although the letters appear joined, the letters are not written as one continuous stroke. They are built up from a series of pen strokes. A good pen control is required to produce the characteristic hairlines and thick strokes.Ruling-UpWith all styles of Calligraphy it is recommended you first practising writing with a larger text height (x-height). Unlike broad-edged calligraphy, the x-height is not measured in terms of nib widths. Typical x-heights are 4, 5 or 6mm. The ‘normal’ ratio of ascender – x-heights – descender is 3:2:3. Therefore if you have an x-height of 4mm, you would have 6mm for ascenders and descenders. However, these are only guidelines.Copperplate writing has a steep slope, typically 54 degrees from the horizontal. It can be hard to write at such a steep angle (especially if you are right-handed). This is why a right-handed calligrapher will typically use an oblique penholder to help ‘point’ the nib in the right direction. A left-handed calligrapher, holding a straight pen holder will automatically have their nib at an angle close to the required 54 degrees. If you are right-handed, rotating the paper in an anti-clockwise direction can help you achieve the correct pen angle. Left handed calligraphers usually they prefer to keep the paper straight. These are only guidelines – experiment to find the combination of pen holder, nib type and paper angle that is most comfortable for you.It is useful to construct the 54 degree line on you guideline sheet. Once you have constructed the first line it can be easily duplicated across the paper by using the width of the ruler to produce a line parallel to the original line. Now slide the ruler over to this second guideline and draw in the third line. This process can be repeated across the whole page.It is worth spending time accurately producing a guide sheet as it can be photocopied at different enlargement settings to produce several guide sheets at various x-heights. If you do this you will need to have heavy but fine lines. You could use a fine biro pen to do this.Scribblers guideline generator can help you with ruling up.Drawing BoardWith most styles of Calligraphy the drawing board is at quite a steep angle. With Copperplate writing the board needs to be at a much flatter angle. This makes the up strokes easier and helps prevent the nib from digging in to the paper. A flatter angle also helps ink flow, because the nib will be at a steeper angle to the paper.
Others in fairly common use are the Hunt 101 and the Brause 66EF. The Brause 66EF is extremely flexible and useful for those who have some competence in the hand, but not recommended to those who are just starting. It is also possible to buy a Mitchell Copperplate ‘elbow’ nib.Unlike the broad edged pen, the pointed nib cannot be sharpened and does not last anywhere near as long. Therefore, it is strongly advised to purchase several at a time.PenholderThere are two choices of 
If you are left handed use a straight pen holder with a straight nib. Some right-handed calligraphers also prefer a this combination, but most prefer an oblique penholder with a straight nib.InkNon-waterproof inks like Higgins Eternal are suitable, but they tend to be a bit thick for Copperplate. If you use these types of ink you will probably need to water them down a little.There are two black 
For colour work 
PaperFor Copperplate writing, you need a very smooth paper. If the paper is not smooth enough the nib will catch on it. For practice ordinary layout paper can be suitable. For final pieces of work use a quality paper, these include some papers designed for ink-jet printers. The most popular paper for Copperplate is 
Some ‘Hot’ press papers are good. In general hand-made papers are unsuitable, as are ‘Not’ papers.
