School:	Applied Computing and Engineering Sciences (ACES)
	Faculty:	Architectural Technology
	Course:	ARCH 12356 Architectural Studio 1

ARCHITECTURAL LETTERING

	PAGE CONTENTS Objectives Background Lettering Standards

OBJECTIVES

• Execute quality line work and lettering.
• Use proper drawing symbols and conventions

BACKGROUND

Notes and titles are an important part of architectural drawings. Lettering should complement a drawing - not distract or overpower. This module will introduce the 'rules' for proper architectural lettering.

LETTERING STANDARDS

GOOD LETTERING IS:

• neat and easily read
• consistent
• reproducible
• simple and quick to apply to drawing

GOOD LETTERING:

• avoids confusion and errors on site
• adds a professional appearance to drawings
• makes a drawing readable even when old and beginning to fade

RULES TO ACHIEVE GOOD LETTERING:

1. Sizes

Size	Used For	Metric	Imperial
Large	Titles	6 mm	1/4"
Medium	Room names and other larger annotations	3 mm	1/8"
Small	General notations and dimensions	2.5 mm	3/32"
Very small	Tight areas	2 mm	1/16"

2. DO NOT SLANT

3. Align notes vertically and group them together wherever possible

4. Use guidelines

5. USE UPPER CASE LETTERS ONLY (i.e. CAPITAL LETTERS)

6. Maintain oblong proportions

7. Maintain equal AREAS between letters
(NOT consistent spacing)

Find a style that meets the above criteria and that you feel comfortable with and practice, practice, practice.

TYPEFACES

	Helvetica medium is a relatively neutral, well-proportioned typeface. Other sans serif (without serifs) typefaces are: folio medium standard medium univers 53 venus medium
	Lighter in weight and more elegant in character are: folio light helvetica light microgramma medium extended Copperplate Gothic optima stempel
	A few sans serif typefaces with relatively heavy weights are: folio bold Helvetica bold microgramma bold extended univers 75
	Similar in weight but with serifs are: Clarendon bold fortune bold (and extra bold) windsor bold

 

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