Variations
What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | US Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) |
|---|---|
| Hand | Uncial, upright |
| x-height | 3.5 nib widths = 13.3 mm |
| Margins | 1/2″ |
| Line weight | 0.15 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
Round and majestic
Uncial letters are wide, round and short, with only small ascenders and descenders. Written with a flat pen angle, they produce heavy curves and fine horizontals, a look that suits titles, quotations, certificates and anything with a medieval or Celtic feel.
Getting the proportions right
Uncial depends on a short, wide body. These sheets set the x-height at 3.5 nib widths and leave 1.5 nib widths above and below for the few letters that reach beyond it. Because lines are short, more of them fit on a page than with other hands.
Practice tips
- Keep it round: o is wider than it is tall.
- Flat pen angle: around 20 to 25 degrees; check by making a horizontal stroke, which should be thin.
- Tight spacing: letters sit close together, with the space inside an o roughly matching the space between letters.
- Pressure: even, light pressure; let the nib make the thick and thin strokes.
More hands
Compare with the upright Foundational hand or the angular Blackletter. All styles can be set on the calligraphy paper page, and the guide sheets guide lists the usual ratios.
Printing
Print at 100% / Actual size so each nib step matches your pen.
More calligraphy guides sheets
Frequently asked questions
What is Uncial?
A rounded script of capital-like letters used in European books from about the fourth to the eighth century. Its insular relative appears in Irish manuscripts such as the Book of Kells.
What proportions do these sheets use?
An x-height of 3.5 nib widths with short ascender and descender spaces of 1.5 nib widths. With a 3.8 mm nib the x-height is 13.3 mm.
What pen angle is used for Uncial?
A flat angle, around 20 to 25 degrees, or even flatter for some forms. The flat angle gives the heavy round strokes and thin horizontals.
Does Uncial have lowercase letters?
Not as such: it is a single-case script. A few letters, such as d, h and l, have short ascenders, which is why the guide includes a little space above and below.
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