You can repeat the sequence of lines, using the same measurements from Step 1, to create a page filled with lines. Swot up on your typography terms, such as x-height and baseline, in my article on The A to Z of Typography. Mark out the top 10 mm third of the total height between the lines and draw a third horizontal line with your ruler and pencil, pressing down more lightly to make a slightly fainter line.

The lower line represents the Baseline, and the top line is the Cap Height.

This has the benefit of ensuring both lines are perfectly parallel. Otherwise, simply create two horizontal lines, 30 mm apart.

If your ruler is a standardised 30 mm-wide ruler, you can keep the ruler in place, and draw a second line along the bottom edge of the ruler. Take your sharpened pencil and, pressing down moderately hard, draw a line above the top edge of the ruler. Lay your ruler flat across the page, at a horizontal angle, as straight as you can make it. This will prove useful when we start to refine our own handwritten characters, and optimise them for digitisation. This is also really useful as it makes you more aware of the key characteristics of a typeface, and makes you more able to recognise common features (consistencies) between different characters within a typeface. I find the best way to do this is to practice drawing a typeface. You should first get into a more natural mode of writing. When you suddenly become very aware of your own handwriting, it can start to look unnatural. You probably write scribbled notes or lists every day, but you’re rarely conscious of your handwriting. What you’ll need for the first part of this typeface drawing tutorial: How to make a handwritten font in Illustrator.How to scan and digitize your handwritten script font.What You Will Learn in This Typography Drawing Tutorial

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