I can't wait to give this a try! Unfortunately, I'll have to, since I'm still recovering from carpal tunnel surgery. This looks like a really good intro to lettering, though I remain skeptical that you can learn it all from a book. If any book can help master such techniques, this is probably it. Each major chapter has at least one project at the end to help you put what you've learned into practice.

There's a very thorough explanation of different tools available. If you're like me and never knew what all the different types of markers, pens, and pencils in an art supply store are actually intended to be used for, that's very handy info.

Then there's a whole section on the anatomy of letters, really, and all the forms they can take. Lots of instruction here on how to get certain shapes for your descenders and other squiggly bits. Next is classic calligraphy, which I found interesting even if it's not what drew me to this book. I probably will never try it, though. The attraction of this book for me is the modern hand lettering info, and it doesn't disappoint. Once the hands heal up, I look forward to trying some of the techniques out.

The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy by Abbey Sy is a lovely book. It has indepth explanations of all types of tools and terms. The photographs are clear and well done.
Unfortunately, I kept turning the pages looking for practice insturctions. While there were some, I feel there weren't near enough. While the idea of practice, practice and more practice leads to great hand lettering and calligraphy I feel this book fell short in guiding the reader through the process. There are beautiful examples of the author's work but not explanation of how to get there. It was like being driven in a bus and left on the side of the road prior to your destination.
This can be used as a reference book regarding tools and terms however I was disappointed in the execution and encouragement for the reader.
I received and ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy is a welcome addition to my library. Over the years I've played around with my own alphabet font, used calligraphy fountain pens, and looked up font suggestions online as I create bullet journal pages. My mother is the source of my creativity, and she once gave me her calligraphy nibs. I had no idea how their uses varied (they've sat in a small tin since I was gifted them due to my inexperience), but this book gave me detailed background information on the merits of each nib and holder type, as well as other modern tools.

The author and the various contributors are thorough in the information given. The sections are beautifully laid out in natural divisions. After detailing tools and paper and expanding on what to notice in the shapes of letters, there are sections on classic and modern calligraphy, decorative lettering, and even digital techniques. The history and recommendations for the best ways to use the script are provided, and I appreciated the detailed and thorough information in each section; for instance, I loved the simplicity and beauty of the cross-drill exercises in the Spencerian Script section.

Included are a variety of projects to inspire readers to be emboldened to create; there are name cards, bookmarks, decorative plates, wall art, and a personal favorite of mine were the embellished notebooks.

I am a fierce advocate for digital books, but I have some exceptions, because of the way I interact with certain genres: children's books, cookbooks, and craft books. This book, while demonstrating a beautiful layout in its digital form, would be so much more useful as a physical book, so I would encourage others to buy it in that medium. There are useful practice pages at the close of the book that, if it were in my possession, I would photocopy so I could practice repeatedly. Additionally, being able to have it open next to me while I practiced would be welcome (and would spare my tablet battery, given the amount of time I'd want to refer to specific alphabet or project suggestions).

This book gives you the resources and confidence to develop calligraphy and hand-lettering skills (I expect soon these fonts will make an appearance in my bullet journal, and I hope to create an original notebook cover with favorite literary quotations).

I was provided a digital advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I have been into lettering and calligraphy since it was introduced to me in a seventh grade art class. I even have a kit of my own. This book showed me new ways to use my kit and that there is not a digital way of doing this. My favorite part of the whole book is the practice sheets that were included in the back of the book. I did not know some the tools or some of the terminology, but this book helped with me with that. It definitely made me feel that I could do this and feel very creative.

Beautifully done, and very current with lots of people (like me) jumping the bullet journal bandwagon. I like the addition of the crafts section. Can't wait to make cards and bookmarks...oh...and spruce up my new bullet journal!

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the opportunity to read this book. This is my honest review.

I would especially recommend this book to beginners. It has a lot of information on tools and supplies as well as basics on typography itself. Many lettering examples and many photos! Plenty to get a novice started.

This is a gorgeous and inspiring book -- however I definitely think it's not for novices! Just at quick glance I was quite a bit intimidated (I didn't even know there were 'pen holders'!). There was a lot more than I remembered from my basic calligraphy courses more than 20 years ago! I was able to pick up some extremely basic tips & tricks, however the majority of the book was lost on me :( My brain has the desire, my hands not so much!

I really liked this book. I’m trying to learn more about different handwriting styles and this definitely helps with that. Also I though it was extremely helpful to have all the extra practice sheets in the back!

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a great resource! It goes into calligraphy detail covering tools and actual hand lettering formation and practice. There are even practice sheets and some creative projects that I am excited to try! This is an awesome book if you would like to improve your calligraphy and learn how to make your hand writing look like printed font.

This book has really helped me with my lettering. I was already trying and practicing but seeing all the tools and everything has really helped me learned what I was doing wrong and how to improve it. I also learned how to give my creations a little “umph” to jazz them up. I can’t wait to start posting more of my work up.

This is a great introduction to hand lettering, which is all the rage these days! I really like how it covers a wide variety of tools, from classic calligraphy nibs to modern brush markers. It also gives a lot of examples and projects to try out. I recommend if you are wanting to learn hand lettering, especially those in the journaling culture.

As someone with horrible handwriting and an interest in bettering it, this book was insightful. It shows the proper movements of the pen/paintbrush/stylus for a number of styles and provides practice sheets and helpful project guidelines to follow. An easy guidebook to follow with a diverse amount of styles to practice. Awesome!

I always thought of calligraphy as old fashioned fonts in black ink. This book has completed changed the way I see it. It shows you how to change letters into art and how you can use these letters and put them into your artistic projects. I would never have thought in a million years of using calligraphy in things such as gift wrapping and decorating bags, but this book shows you how to do it!

It has helpful hints and tips and a useful Tools and Materials section showing that it’s not just the old fashioned nibs and ink that you associate with calligraphy, but also more modern tools such as brush pens, chalks and pencils. There is also a section on Digital Lettering, showing how you can use technology to transform your work further.

There is a lot of information about how to get started with hand lettering and calligraphy, beginning with classic calligraphy and moving onto more modern ways. The information is detailed with lots of clear photos along the way. There are examples and projects with clear instructions showing how you can use the things you’ve learnt in the book.

Personally for me on one hand, it’s a very comprehensive book which is quite detailed, to the point where at parts it was difficult to understand. I do think this book would be better suited for intermediate calligraphers. I would be a complete beginner and I think it is a bit too complex for me! On the other hand, it is a beautiful book which is filled with lots of useful information on how to create some beautiful projects which I would never have associated with calligraphy!

A definite thumbs up, but I do think you need to have had some experience to get the full benefit of this book!

Thank you to the author and Publisher for this free book.

Handletterig has become increasingly popular during the last years.

This book offers lots of pictures, as one would expect from a photo guide, starting with materials from traditional to modern, covering the topics of letter anatomy and how to draw the perfect calligraphy letter, up to digital lettering. There are exercises to get you started, including practice sheets, and project ideas using different tools and different media to letter on.

It's a book I'd recommend to the novice hand letterer as well as the more advanced hobby calligrapher.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. Great book for beginners and easy to follow instructions. Very informative!

If you have an event coming up and you need placards, a customized art piece, or just want to memorialize a saying, you'll love this photo guide. You'll see the how-to for lettering, find projects to make your own, get practice sheets and spacing grades, and find out how to use and combine various alphabets.

I recommend this for people with great appreciation for beautiful letters but limited skill, as well as for those of us who have taken calligraphy courses before. The nice thing about this is that you'll pull it out again and again: finish one project, put it aside for a while. I promised that you'll find yourself reaching for the book again when you're ready for your next lettering exploits. Pretty as well as practical!

The Complete Photo Guide to Hand Lettering and Calligraphy is one of several books I have read in this 'complete photo guide' series, and, like the others, it is excellent. The information is beautifully presented, with careful instructions neatly interspersed between helpful illustrations. The book offers a wonderful approach for those new to hand lettering and calligraphy, or those seeking to improve current skills, with useful practice sheets in the back and plenty of examples to follow. The suggested projects are a nice touch to help get you crafting and writing. An excellent resource.

I love this easy to follow guide to work on my calligraphy. I like to have it open on my iPad next to me as I work. Terrific book!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.