Calligraphy

Pronounced a-nee-may, anime refers to any of the various forms of animation in the country of Japan.  Outside the country, anime relates strictly to Japanese animation.  Sometimes anime is called “Japanimation.”

A section of the lowercase letter that is created by a curve springing from the stem of a letter.  H and m are examples of letters containing an arch.

In calligraphy, an ascender is the section of a letter that extends over the waistline.

In calligraphy, an ascender line is the guideline that displays how high an ascending letter is. 

Also known as the writing line, this is the level that a line of writing rests.  The base line lends a fixed reference for the various heights of letters and the drop of the descenders.

The body height is the height of the basic form of a lower-case letter.  The additional length of the ascenders or descenders is not part of the body height. 

Book hand is any of the various styles of the alphabet frequently used in making books prior to the age of printing.

A bowl refers to the section of a letter that is made by curved strokes joined to the main stem and enclosing a counster.  The letters a and b are two examples.

In calligraphy, a branching stroke is the stroke that joins an arch to the down-stroke of a letter.

Built-up letters are letters that are created by drawing, as opposed to writing them.  They may also be made by altering the basic form of the structural pen strokes. 

In calligraphy, the cap line is the guideline that displays how high a capital letter is. 

This is the first standard minuscule script; it was designed by Alcuin of York towards the end of the 8th century.  He was directed by the Emperor Charlemagne to create it.

This is a form of italic script that scribes of the papal Chancery in Renaissance Italy used to do their work.  Chancery cursive is also known as cancellaresca.

Character is a typographic term used to describe items frequently used in typesetting, such as symbols, punctuation marks, or letters.  The term may also refer to Japanese or Chinese ideogram.

In calligraphy, the counter is the space inside a letter (often it is white in color); it is the region enclosed in a letter in numeric letterforms, lowercase, and uppercase.  

In calligraphy, a counter space is a space within a letter.

In calligraphy, the cross bar is the horizontal stroke that creates the section of a letter.  For example, the letter H contains a cross bar.

Cuneiform is the first systematic form of writing.  The name originally comes from the wedge-shaped strokes created as one inscribes on soft clay.  In Latin, the word cuneus means wedge.

Cursive is a form of handwriting that involves fast and informal writing.  The letters are quickly made and they are joined together.  A writing utensil does not lose contact with the paper when one writes in cursive. 

Demotic script is the informal script from Egypt.  It originates from hieratic script and hieroglyphs.

A descender is the section of the letterform that goes under the baseline; frequently it refers to lowercase letters, as well as to various punctuation marks.  However, a few typefaces include uppercase letters with descenders.

A diacritical sign is a mark or accent.  The sign demonstrates how a certain syllable or letter is pronounced.

In calligraphy, a downstroke is a stroke that is positioned downward along the descender or base line. 

In calligraphy, a ductus is the direction, number and sequence of the strokes that work together to create a letter. 

Face is the standard term used for an alphabet created for typographic use.

A flourish is an elongated pen stroke or linear decoration element that enhances a letter’s basic form.

Gilding refers to applying gold leaf to an adhesive base in order to embellish an ornament or letter.

Gothic script refers to a general term that includes various styles of writing; usually the writing is heavy and angular, and relates to the medieval period.

In calligraphy, a hairline is a extremely skinny line.

Hand is another word for handwriting or script.  “Hand” signifies that something is written by hand, as opposed to a computer.

A type of formal script created by the ancient Egyptians.

The first form of writing that was used in ancient Egypt.  Pictorial symbols are used to represent words.

An ideogram is symbol that describes an abstract idea or concept - as opposed to a tangible object.

An embellishment of a manuscript that contains gold leaf burnished to shine brightly.  Illumination may also be used in reference to embellishing with color and gold. 

To indent is to keep a space blank in addition to the margin given.  The space is placed at the first line of writing – it signals that a new paragraph is beginning.

In calligraphy, an interletter space is a space that exists between two letters.

In calligraphy, an interlinear space is the space that exists between two lines of writing.

In calligraphy, an interword space is the space that exists between two words.

Slanted forms of writing; it contains curving letters formed from an elliptical model, as opposed to a circular one. 

A layout is the standard plan of two-dimensional design.  Layout displays the organization of text, illustration, spacing and other elements of a design. 

In calligraphy, a majuscule is an upper case letter (or capital). 

Manuscript refers to a document or book that is written by hand (as opposed to being made by a printing process). 

Massed text is text written in a compressed script or heavy script that contains only a small amount of spacing between the lines and words.

In calligraphy, a minuscule is a lower case letter.

In calligraphy, a nib is a pen point. 

In calligraphy, a nib width is the width of a tool’s edge.  There are various sizes of nib widths.  For example, a letter may be written at 8 nib widths high or at 4 nib widths high.  A letter written with at 8 nib widths high will be twice as light as one written at 4 nib widths high. 

An ornament is a pattern or device that embellishes text that is printed or handwritten.

Papyrus is the first form of paper.  It is a rough material created by hammering strips of fiber together that come from the stem of the papyrus plant. 

Parchment is a type of writing material made from the innermost layer of sheepskin.
 

In calligraphy, a pen angle is the angle that a nib connects with the paper in relation to the base line. 

A pictogram is a type of pictorial symbol.  It symbolizes a certain image or object.

Pounce is a type of fine powder.  It is functions as a preventative measure to stop ink from spreading on paper that is not sized.  It is also used to get the surface of parchment ready to take on ink. 

Ragged Text is a column or page of writing that contains lines of various lengths.  It is aligned to only one side of the paper or on the central axis of the paper. 

The alphabet of Roman capitals is the alphabet created by the Romans.  It is the foundation of the majority of modern western alphabet systems.

The alphabet of rustic capitals is an informal alphabet that the Romans used.  This alphabet contained long roundish letters as opposed to the standard square Roman capitals.

Script is simply writing that is done by hand.  It is often used to refer to a cursive style of writing.

Serif is the shorthand device or pen stroke that ends the main stroke of a letter’s form.  Examples of serif include the hook or hairline.

The basic form of a letter displaying its most important identifying characteristics. 

In calligraphy, a slant is a letter’s slope in relation from the vertical.

In calligraphy, a slant line is a guideline that displays the appropriate slant. 

A stele is a standing pillar or slab that displays an inscription.

A stem is the foundational vertical stroke in a letter’s form.

Textura refers to certain forms of Gothic script that appear to be woven texture, because of the density and regularity of the writing.  In Latin, textura means woven.

In calligraphy, “thick” refers to a stroke that is strong, blunt or heavy.

In calligraphy, “thin” refers to a stroke that is very fine.  “Thin” is sometimes referred to as a hairline.

Uncial is a form of book hand.  The early Christians and Romans used it; uncial was characterized by the squashed heavy form of the letter O.

Vellum is a type of writing material made from a calf’s skin.  It is characterized by a very smooth velvety texture.

 

Versal is a big embellished letter that signifies the opening of a line, verse or paragraph in a manuscript.

 

In calligraphy, a waistline refers to a guideline that displays the appropriate position of the upper boundary of the x-height.

Weight is the amount of the thickness and size of a pen letter.  It is communicated through the relationship of nib width to height.

In calligraphy, “height” refers to a section of a letter or all of a letter that rests between the waistline and the base line.