Copyright © Martina Flor 2021

7 Ways To Better
Your Lettering
 7 Ways To Better Your Lettering
You love drawing letters and you work hard to get better at it. You put
in several hours to improve your technique and produce work. Way to
go! Here are a few tips to help you improve your lettering:

Tell a story

Is your lettering conveying the message or story that you

want it to convey? All the elements combined in your design,
such as color, structure, letter shapes, and embellishments,
should contribute to this ultimate goal. An artwork that
conveys an unwanted message or the wrong atmosphere
fails as a communication piece, no matter how pretty it is.
Copyright © Martina Flor 2021

Create consistency

The letters in the alphabet share certain shapes and features.

Therefore, if I decide to work with a certain type of serif, I
should be able to apply this design decision to every letter of
my piece. This does not mean that you’ll copy and paste the
exact same serif on every letter; rather, you’ll adjust its basic
shape according to the nature of each letterform. This way
your design will look consistent, and the letters will “speak
the same language.”
 Make it readable

You’re giving shape to language and words to convey

messages and tell stories. Readability— the ease with which
a reader can understand a written text—is paramount
when working with typography. Confirm that none of the
decorative elements and effects in your lettering piece are
compromising the clarity of the message. Keep a look at your
spacing and confirm that is evenly distributed throughout
the words. Is there any pair of letters that are tighter
together? Or too far apart? No worries, that happens. If you
can see it, you can fix it.

Work on the details

Its richness of detail is what differentiates lettering from

other typographic forms. Detail doesn’t necessarily mean
Copyright © Martina Flor 2021

adding tons of decorative elements and embellishments, but

is taking care of the things that sometimes only you can see.
The letterforms are the stars of your work. They should be
consistent and beautifully crafted. As a lettering artist, your
main focus lies in searching for the ideal shape for your
letters. No more, no less.

Make it custom

Lettering is custom made for a specific purpose. Whether

it is used for a storefront, a magazine cover, or an article
illustration, the power of custom lettering is that it is tailored
to that specific object or application. Its shapes, colors, and
structure should be designed to work in perfect harmony with
its context.
 Create something new

Lettering is a craft that dates back centuries, which allows us

to get inspiration from a rich pool of historic styles, shapes,
and features. At the same time, we should pay attention to
the work of contemporary artists and designers. Getting
inspiration, however, neither means replicating a vintage
design nor trying to emulate a contemporary lettering
designer. Always aim to bring something new to the scene—
find your own voice rather than creating more of what
already exists.

Keep on honing your skills

Action is the only way to get better. No matter how much

you read about a topic, it is not until you put that theory in
Copyright © Martina Flor 2021

practice that concepts get hard wired in your brain—and

your hands.

No matter your level of competency, there’s always room

for improvement. For weekly tips and related content,
subscribe to the free Lettering Tips Newsletter at
www.martinaflor.com/letteringtips.
 If you’re serious about unlocking your full potential at drawing
letters, and you’re willing to put in the time and effort, I teach a
limited amount of students each month in my eight-week
online class, The Lettering Seminar.
Copyright © Martina Flor 2021

ENROLL NOW

www.theletteringseminar.com