The newest title in Barron's popular All About Techniques Series presents a self-teaching calligraphy course for art students and ambitious hobbyists. A command of lettering is a part of every professional graphic designer's repertory of skills, and this book takes students step-by-step through a detailed calligraphy course, starting with the history of writing techniques from ancient times to the present day. A following chapter describes calligraphic tools and materials. Readers are introduced to the variety of pens with special nibs, inks, brushes, and different kinds of suitable paper, and are instructed in their use. Lessons that follow guide students stroke-by-stroke through a series of different Roman, Gothic, Italic, and Oriental scripts, using instructive text and progressive illustrations. Each book in the All About Techniques Series covers the basics of art theory and its application for a specific art topic, and then proceeds to instruct students in mastery of that medium, the objective being highly finished professional quality work. The books are suitable for both self-teaching and formal art class instruction. Full-color photos and illustrations on every page.