Lettering is the art of drawing letters, instead of simply writing them. It is considered an art form where each letter in a phrase or quote acts as an illustration, created with attention to detail and has a unique role within a composition. Lettering is created as an image, with letters that are meant to be used in a unique configuration, and words do not always translate into alphabets that can later be used in a typeface, since they are created with a specific word in mind. Lettering can be used for various purposes such as blueprints, comic books, sign painting, custom graphics, posters, letterheads, business wordmarks, lettering in stone, advertisements, tire lettering, fileteado, graffiti, or on chalkboards. Lettering can be drawn, incised, applied using stencils, using a digital medium with a stylus, or a vector program.
Hand lettering, or just lettering, is the art of drawing letters in any style. It is different from calligraphy, where basic strokes are used to form letters and words. Typography is another term that is often confused with lettering, but it refers to the design and arrangement of typefaces. In summary, lettering is the art of drawing letters, while calligraphy is the art of writing letters with pressure-sensitive tools, and typography is the design and arrangement of typefaces.
