Using an Ames Guide to Hand Letter Comic Books

Blambot's Nate Piekos shows you the traditional way to use an Ames Guide for hand lettering comic books. Various styles of pens are explained, and some original samples by lettering greats Todd Klein and Pat Brosseau are presented.

[calicodavis]

Back when I started my webcomic, I briefly tried to do hand lettering. But I didn't know about the Ames Guide back then, and as you might imagine, I found it enormously frustrating trying to draw consistent lines! I gave up pretty quickly. Now I have an Ames Guide, but I've only played around with it a little. One of these days I'll try out some actual hand lettering.

[loringbush]

Kinda reminds me of the rolling ruler which I still have from the early 90s and it still works!

[juanmotoa_]

Hi. Cartoonist Stan Sakai sets his Ames lettering Guide at 3.25. How would you do that? I can’t figure it out.

[eddysgaming]

I've had one of these Ames Guides for years. Never got around to finding out how to use it!
Now I know. Thank you.

[mannypdesign]

Those framed word balloons are amazing!

[zuercher]

Fascinating video, especially the part where you explain the pens! Will you do a video of you doing some lazy hand lettering? 😄

[cmdrhatchy]

Thank-you SO much! I shall be practicing this skill as soon as everything is delivered!

[Moonster]

Thank you for posting - fascinating stuff - off to order a Ames guide ! - Also lovely to see those framed examples .

[ComicBookCovers]

T-square on the side of the page?! I used to put it on the side of the table.

[jtzofrea]

Anyone have any good books or written guides on this?