Using Seyes ruling?

[collyermum]

Hi

I am planning to have a go at learning Spencerian (I only do Copperplate at the moment). I have read in some places that Seyes ruling is a good one to use for practice.  If I did, how would I go about the 52 deg slopes? Is there a way to eyeball it using the Seyes ruling or would I still need a guide sheet underneath (wouldn't that make it a bit pointless?).

Perhaps one of you more experienced Spencerian penpeople could explain it to a beginner, please....?

Thank you

[AndyT]

I like 2mm Seyes paper, because it's a convenient sort of x-height, and also because the quality of Clairefontaine at least is excellent.  I don't tend to use slant guides now, but used to slip a sheet underneath.  It's good for practice, having closely spaced lines to give the heights for ascenders and descenders too.

You'll note that the vertical ruling divides the page into squares.  If you count off four squares down and three across and join the opposite corners of the rectangle, that will give you approximately 53°, which is quite handy.  If you're a stickler for accuracy, 9:7 will give you the merest shade over 52°.  So it's not too difficult to construct the slant lines if required without recourse to tiresome things like protractors or adjustable set squares.  A rolling ruler would be jolly handy, though.

[collyermum]

Aah, thank you AndyT, it is good to understand how it is used in practice! The trick with the rectangles to produce the correct angle sounds like just what I was after!

Thank you!
 

[D B Holtz]

If I did this right, the guidesheet I use should be attached.  The solid lines are for the downstrokes, and dashed lines are for the connecting strokes. 

DB

[collyermum]

Thank you, DB!