Exploring the Ames Lettering Guide, +bonus bunnies

[shadesofmauve]

I finally pulled out my Trusty Ames Lettering guide.

It is trusty because everyone says "Trust us, you NEED this" not because I've ever actually used it.

For those unfamiliar with the cartoonist's arsenal, the Ames Lettering Guide is a little device made of two pieces of clear plastic dotted with small holes, somewhat more mysterious and difficult to calibrate than stone henge. When used by a master, it allows you to determine the next weekend on the Mayan calendar and your position in degrees north of the equator using only a pencil.

I have no idea how to use this thing.

I turned to my shelf of reference material, and since the rabbit is out and my room-mate isn't, I narrated in pleasing, bunny-friendly tones, thusly:

"Let's check Encyclopedia of Cartooning Techniques, bunny! Contents, L, Lettering... Encyclopedia of Cartooning Techniques says that the Ames Lettering Guide is immensely helpful for all hand letterers and other practitioners of the occult. It doesn't say how. Maybe Eisner can help us! Eisner can always help! No, Eisner is only talking about meaningful stuff, not how-to. I know, Bunny! Mr. Scott [McCloud]! We love Mr. Scott! Oh...it's not here. Neither is the other one. Does Erik STILL have ALL of Mr. Scott? Poo.

Oh, you have. Under my desk, again. I love you too."

Comments

[fenmere.livejournal.com]

I can help! The Ames lettering Guide is one of those doohickeys with way too much crap on it for the average user, but it does have everything you need.

Set the guide to 3.5. If you hold the guide so the roundy bit is up and the larger flat edge is parallel to the bottom of your page, you'll see some numbers near the bottom edge lining the roundy bit. Use those numbers, not the other numbers. There should be an indicator ridge (or line) you can use for setting the line width. Put it between the 3 and the 4 (at least until you feel comfortable playing with it.

Now. Put your ruler on your comic page and the long edge of the Lettering Guide against the ruler (both items flat against the page). Typically, the Lettering Guide will be above the rule on the page, not below it, but you can probably experiment.

Using only the lower set of holes, and only the holes with the swoopy ridge connecting them, draw lines, like a lettering person. The extra holes between the connected holes are for the midline, or the top of the lowercase letters, and you don't really need the lines they produce.

If that doesn't help, I'll scan my guide and draw arrows at it if you like! But only if that doesn't help. I'm lazy today.

[shadesofmauve]

I think that helps!

Though, my version of it's uses is more exotic. :)