Frequently asked questions

Practice sheets

Are the calligraphy practice sheets really free?

Yes. Every sheet is a free PDF. There is no email signup and no account, and the download starts as soon as you click. Each sheet comes in US Letter and A4. Browse them all on the practice sheets page.

How do I print a practice sheet at the right size?

Print at 100% or "actual size", and turn off "fit to page" or "shrink to fit" in the print dialog. If the printer rescales the sheet, the x-height changes and the guidelines no longer match the style. Plain printer paper works for brush pens; for a pointed nib, use smooth paper that doesn't bleed.

Can I use the sheets in a class I teach?

Yes. You're welcome to print the sheets and exemplars for your own practice and for classes you teach. Please don't resell them, or repost the images without a link back to the page they came from.

Can I make a sheet with my own words?

Yes. Type any word or name into the calligraphy generator and choose "Make a practice sheet" to print it as a tracing sheet. For blank lined paper in a style's proportions, use the guideline sheet maker.

Learning calligraphy

What is the difference between cursive and calligraphy?

Cursive is joined-up everyday handwriting written with a single, even line. Calligraphy adds contrast: thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes, made by pressing a flexible pen or brush, or by holding a broad nib at a fixed angle. Many calligraphy capitals share their skeleton with the school cursive letter, so learning cursive first is a good start. Each letter page shows both.

Which calligraphy style should a beginner start with?

Start with modern calligraphy written with a small brush pen. It has the same thick-thin contrast as traditional pointed-pen scripts, but the pen needs no dipping and the style forgives uneven slant and spacing. The beginner calligraphy alphabet is the easiest place to begin.

What pen do I need to start?

A small-tip brush pen is enough for modern calligraphy and brush lettering. If you only have a ballpoint or a fineliner, you can still practise faux calligraphy: write the letter with one line, then thicken the downstrokes afterward. See the supplies pages for tested picks.

How should I practise the alphabet?

Learn the basic strokes first, then the letters built from them, rather than going A to Z. Most lowercase letters in pointed-pen and brush scripts are made from a few strokes, so the beginner drill sheets cover most of the alphabet before you write a single word. Short daily sessions work better than long weekly ones.

The calligraphy generator

Does the calligraphy generator use real handwriting?

No. The generator is the one place on this site that uses fonts, and it says so. Every letter, alphabet and word on the other pages is written by hand and scanned.

Can I use images I make with the generator?

Yes. The generator's fonts are licensed under the SIL Open Font License, which lets you use text made with them in your own designs, including cards, invitations and signs.

Is the text I type saved anywhere?

No. Everything you type stays in your browser. It is kept in the page address so you can share a link, and it is never sent to us. The privacy page has the details.

About this site

Who writes the letters on this site?

Every exemplar is written by hand, scanned, and shown as written. The guidelines, slant lines and stroke-order marks on top are drawn by the site, so each page shows both a real hand and a clear diagram. Read more on the about page.

Do I need an account?

No. This site has no accounts, and every free sheet downloads without an email address.

Is this site connected to the business that used this domain before?

No. This site has no connection to the business that used this domain before. It is a new, independent project.

How do I report a mistake or ask a question?

Use the contact page. If a letter, stroke order or sheet looks wrong, tell us which page and what you noticed.