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If you are planning
to have a calligrapher address your envelopes your
choice of invitation can affect
the cost and appearance of the hand lettering.
Quality paper such as Crane's stock will not lead
you astray. Papers that are too glossy/slick or too
rough (calligraphers call it 'tooth') may present
problems. Ink/paint may bleed or run and the calligrapher
may have to take extra steps to treat the paper beforehand
in order to write on it. These extra steps may prove
either costly or affect the finished product. When
shopping for your invitations, take a fountain pen
with you. Ask to sample an envelope---if the ink
bleeds on the envelope or it is difficult to write
on, the calligrapher may face the same problem.
Color of the envelope itself may increase the potential
problems. If you choose a dark/opaque envelope, the
calligrapher will not be able to use a light box
to see the liner he/she uses to guide the writing
--- each envelope will have to be 'lined' separately
and then the guidelines erased...another potential
glitch. Even those calligraphers who use a 'phantom
liner' to project guidelines onto their project may
be stymied by a very dark paper. Color of the writing
itself can vary. Calligraphers use inks and paints
to letter, depending on your choice of color schemes
in your invitation. You can request basic black ---
flat or glossy --- or a color can be mixed to coordinate
with your invitation. If you want a 'total look;
before you place your order with your printer, you
can ask the calligrapher to write out your return
address for the back flap, thus having it match the
envelope when the calligrapher does each address.
Envelope liners will present an extra challenge
for the calligrapher as the liner must be gently
pulled out, the guidelines inserted in the envelope,
and then the liner must be gently replaced. This
extra handling will increase the cost of each envelope
addressed. If you like a lined envelope, there are
lovely choices of tissue or pale liners that will
not make the envelope too opaque to work with. Not
certain? Try placing a dark lined index card in the
envelope and holding up to the light; if you can
see the lines, then the calligrapher can too.
Fonts Vs Hands. Your computer and printer use fonts
to present text ---calligraphers have various 'hands'
that they write in. If you wish to have your invitation
and envelopes to be coordinated, choose several 'fonts'
that you like at the printer and show them to your
calligrapher. Not every calligrapher can match or
write in every font a printer can use… it may
be easier to match your printer's font to the calligrapher's
hand than trying to find a calligrapher that can
do a very specific hand --- or finding yourself having
to pay additional calligraphy fees to do so.
Calligraphy means the art of beautiful writing.
You have spent time and money choosing your invitations;
adding lovely hand addresses to them is the special,
personal touch that will turn your invitations into
keepsakes for your guests.
by Nan DeLuca
Calligraphically yours
deluca212@aol.com
New York City
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