How to Write in Blackletter (Gothic Calligraphy)

Steps

1. 1. Choose a Broad-Edge Pen for Blackletter Calligraphy

   Blackletter needs a pen with a flat, wide tip. Tamer likes the Pilot Parallel Pen.

   Tip: Empty Parallel cartridges can be rinsed and refilled with any fountain pen ink you like.

   

2. 2. Rule the Baseline and Waistline for Your Blackletter Letters

   Draw a pencil line for the baseline, where the letters sit. Then draw a second line above it for the waistline, the top of short letters like a, c, e and o.

   Tip: Use a light hand with the pencil so the lines erase cleanly after the ink dries.

   

3. 3. Add Ascender and Descender Space Above and Below the X-Height

   Some letters reach higher or lower than the rest. The tall parts of b, d and f are ascenders.

   Tip: A good beginner ratio is 2 nib widths above, 5 in the middle and 2 below.

   

4. 4. Measure the Blackletter X-Height in Nib Widths

   Your guide lines should match your pen. Hold the nib flat and make a small square mark.

   Tip: If you prefer numbers, multiply the nib width by 5. A 3.8 mm nib gives about 1.9 cm.

   

5. 5. Slide a Blackletter Guide Sheet Under Your Paper on a Lightbox

   Ruling every page gets old fast. Print a blackletter guide sheet for your pen size, lay it on a lightbox and put your writing paper on top.

   Tip: Tamer offers free guide sheets for six pen sizes, from 1.5 mm to 6 mm.

   

6. 6. Practice the Four Basic Blackletter Pen Strokes

   The whole alphabet comes from four strokes. Line 1 is a wide vertical pulled straight down.

   Tip: Keep the nib angle the same for all four. Only the direction of the stroke changes.

   

7. 7. Build a Lowercase Blackletter A From Straight Strokes

   Begin your a slightly below the waistline. Pull a vertical stroke down, add a short diagonal at the foot, then a diagonal across the top to make the closed bowl.

   Tip: Lift the pen between strokes. Clean corners come from separate strokes, not one long drag.

   

8. 8. Write a Lowercase Blackletter B Next to the A

   The b starts higher, up in the ascender space. Pull a long vertical stroke from there down to the baseline.

   Tip: Check the gaps. Even spacing between stems is what makes blackletter look like blackletter.

   

9. 9. Play With Variations of the Blackletter A

   Now have fun. Write the a again and change one thing each time.

   Tip: Pick your favorite a and use its shapes to guide the rest of your alphabet.