Messages

1

Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 2

« on: December 21, 2020, 08:17:34 PM »

Hi @Salman.
It's great to see you back here. Been a while and a long journey. The feedback is very helpful and I think I've been able to overcome that particular problem over time without understanding the reason. Good to know why it was there.
Attached is something I wrote a bit back @ 8mm. Been unable to write much these days due to..... Life. Experimenting a bit with flourishing, but you'll see that the group 2 has been taken care of 😊
Anyway, hope you're here for good and inspiring & teaching many more like me.
BTW, still awaiting your majuscule tutorials 😝
Regards
Vipul

2

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Your Instagrams

« on: January 03, 2020, 12:24:45 AM »

My work is available here

https://www.instagram.com/bhatiavipul

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Home made ink reservoir - Pointed pens

« on: January 03, 2020, 12:05:27 AM »

I bought a couple of Ziller  inks and have been struggling to get them to behave.  I have been meaning to try the home made ink reservoir, so I finally decided to give it a go.  It really seems to be helping the ink flow problems I have been having with the Zillers. I think the ink is flowing much more consistently, rather than dumping out in the first couple of strokes.  Thank you so much for sharing ...I was about ready to give up on my ink!

Thanks. I would also suggest dilution of the ink, or letting it dry out a bit. The viscosity of the ink plays an important part in the ink flow

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Home made ink reservoir - Pointed pens

« on: January 03, 2020, 12:03:19 AM »

Yep! Wonderful tip. Thank you so very much. I'll have to compare it with the old metal reservoirs, but it is still something cheap and easy to do yet useful at the same time.

Thanks. Do comment on its efficacy and how it compares.

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 2

« on: April 23, 2019, 03:23:53 PM »

Hi @Salman Khattak

Getting frustrated and hence turning to you again for help. Unable to get the group 2 (over turn & compound stroke) right. Been filling pages, but somehow seem lost. Tried to reverse the 'u' for the over turn, but somehow not getting it. I think I am missing something, and not about to place my finger on it. Please suggest something.

The compound stroke seems to be at an off angle, and the space between the second stroke and compound turn always seems higher visually, even if it measures correct. If reduced, the letter appears odd. 😣😣

Thanks,
Vipul

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: Copperplate Minuscules - Group 1

« on: April 23, 2019, 03:17:19 PM »

Hi @Salman Khattak
Going back to the basics and practicing the basic strokes. Sorry if they are not exactly as per your groups. 
Regards,
Vipul

7

Guidelines / Re: Guidelines

« on: January 24, 2019, 05:31:53 AM »

Thanks for posting such a helpful post! I have another to add to this nice collection as well.

https://kylev.github.io/pen/

It has some default presets you can use for copperplate, spencerian, and foundation. You can also customize colors, angles, gaps, etc.

This one is beautiful. Adding it to the main post.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Home made ink reservoir - Pointed pens

« on: January 24, 2019, 05:21:22 AM »

Brilliant! I have never heard of this before. I can’t wait to try it out. Thank you so much for sharing with us and for the excellent photos. 

Do let me know the results

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Home made ink reservoir - Pointed pens

« on: January 23, 2019, 05:55:39 AM »

Best explanation and pics of this I've seen!  I've tried and given up using the spiral wire inserts --- for me they didn't last long because were difficult to clean and detached after a few cleanings. 

My particular story involves a broad edge pen.  I had much trouble getting ink to start with Mitchell nibs and their reservoirs. After scouring online, I found the paper/cloth tape idea.  Wrapping was the suggestion, but I am now a convert to your tiny strip!

So now I will use tape reservoirs for both broad and pointed nibs.  You are amazing.  Now, do you have any more solutions up your sleeve (I hope)?

Enjoy....Have discovered a few tricks....ask away

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Improve Ink flow and retention - Pointed pens

« on: January 07, 2019, 08:32:53 AM »

How is it to clean?  Can you still just rinse and wipe?  Also can you use different inks using the same nib?

Yes, I leave the tape on the nib after washing it thoroughly and then drying it completely with a cloth. Haven't had any problems with other inks. Have used Walnut, sumi, ecoline liquid watercolour, winsor and newton calligraphy ink without any problem. But you can always redo it.......takes just a couple of minutes.
Do try it and share your experience.

11

Open Flourish | General Discussion / Home made ink reservoir - Pointed pens

« on: January 07, 2019, 04:38:34 AM »

Hi everyone,

I've been frustrated by the need to repeatedly dip my pen. And if the ink is a little dilute, the sudden blob that comes on the paper when I write.

So did a lot of research, and found 2 things. Reservoir nibs, which are horrendously costly at over $5 each. And a post on the flourish forum, which has a few suggestions. After that, I experimented with quite a few things. I got a bit of thin wire and wrapped it around the nib. It helped in better ink retention but threw the balance off. Then I tried wrapping the nib (around the breather hole) with sewing thread. That held quite a bit of ink but the nibs rusted faster, since doing it every time was impossible and I had to leave the thread on. Both had their issues.

Giving it a bit of scientific thought (I'm a pilot, so do read a bit of physics and chemistry) I realised that I needed a reservoir and a way to smoothly transfer the ink to the tip. The easy answer to the second was capillary action. So with a bit of hit and miss, I developed the following method.

There is a medical tape called 'micropore paper tape', that's like thick tissue paper. It's cheap and lasts forever. I believe, there is something called carpenter's tape also, that's similar. These, basically have a very porous upper surface, and a good sticky surface. To make the ink reservoir and improve the flow of the ink is a simple procedure.

Prep the nib to remove the oil. (Whichever way works for you, Saliva, Toothpaste, Flame etc. I personally just stick it in my mouth for a couple of min).

Let it dry completely (Very important if you want to do this just once in the life of the nib. If you're willing to do it every time you use the nib, then you can use the nib slightly damp too).

Take a small sliver of the tape and stick it on the underside of a dry nib, over the slit, so that ink sticks to it and flows easily.

These are to improve ink flow and retention. The nib is ready for use. However, if you want a much bigger reservoir, with a lot of ink retention then add the following too.

You can also stick the tape wrapped around the nib, (encircling the nib) so that it forms kind of a pocket to hold the ink and let it flow. If you do this without the tape over the slit, you WILL get blobs.

That's it. For better understanding, I've added pics of each step.

Do let me know how it works for you. Feel free to ask any questions. 

12

Guidelines / Re: Guidelines

« on: January 02, 2019, 09:03:17 AM »

Thanks for taking the time to explain about how to create guidelines Vipul. I do not know why I just cannot get it, I am trying to create the simplest guide and just can't get it. Could I ask you a HUGE favor, would you be willing to walk me through it? I will send you the details of what I would like if you are happy to help me, not problem if not. thanks again, K

Hi Karen.
So sorry for such a late reply. I'll be more than happy to help you out, if its still pending.
Let me know what I can do.
Regards,
Vipul

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Your Instagrams

« on: January 02, 2019, 09:00:17 AM »

mine is bhatiavipul. Would love to find you there

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Happy New Year

« on: January 02, 2019, 08:28:38 AM »

@Salman Khattak

Dear Salman,
Here is wishing you a very happy new year and best wishes for 2019.
I am really thankful to you for being a mentor and such a patient teacher, in this journey of pointed nib calligraphy.
So thankful in this new year for your mindful guidance and all your help.

Regards,
Vipul

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Copperplate Tutorial by SMK / Re: General Feedback - Copperplate

« on: October 28, 2018, 01:00:05 AM »

@Salman Khattak

Hi. Been practicing a bit.... Majuscules still an issue.
However my question is about consistency...... I am able to write a page filled with a letter quite consistently, but when I'm writing a passage or a sentence, there are visible inconsistencies. How can I improve that?

Also, need a bit is advice on the 'ss'. The entry stroke of the second 's' is generally not at the same slope, unless I make a round understroke as the exit from the first 's'. Could you please elaborate on the 'ss'.

Thanks in advance

Regards,
Vipul