Home Movies (1944)

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HEN we see a motion picture in our neighborhood theatre, it is usually introduced on the screen by an artistic if not lavish hand-lettered main title. The amateur with more than ordinary pride in his movies will introduce his pictures with titles of similar style. Hand lettering of the title text not only lends more distinction than other forms of lettering, but it often affords opportunity to work in a decorative scheme in keeping with subject of the picture. This is by no means intended as disparagement against use of block title letters or other mediums of title card composition; it is only that the handlettered main title has become so firmly established, through long and continued use, as the introductory caption for motion pictures. Nor should it be concluded that amateurs with a flair for art and lettering are the only ones who can hand letter title cards. The number of movie makers who can do a good job of freehand lettering are relatively few indeed, but there are methods of lettering title cards — and certain gadgets and accessories^— that will enable the amateur to letter with surprising skill. First there are the Speedball lettering pens, obtainable at stationery stores for about fifteen cents each, which enable the user to achieve remarkable results. Any person who can hold a pen and draw a straight line can use them with success. Speedball pens come in a variety of styles — that is the points vary in size and width so that it is possible to select a pen for the particular style of lettering desired. These pens hold a LETTER YOUR TITLES M ME B y GEORGE W . C U S H M A N supply of ink in the tip, and the broad surface of the tip produces a stroke similar to that achieved by a skilled artist with a brush. They may be used with colored inks supplied by the makers, diluted show-card colors, or black india ink. The manufacturers have prepared an interesting and instructive booklet that shows how to achieve lettering success with Speedball pens. Selling for 25 cents, the book is available wherever Speedball pens are sold. Movie amateurs seeking a simple accessory by which to hand letter title cards will do well to investigate. Another system which assures skill in hand lettering are the perforated lettering guides available which enable the user to make straight, uniform letters • The, Wrico lettering outfit consists of celluloid stencils or lettering guides which aid in lettering titles with pen and ink. with little more effort than writing free hand. Among these are the Wrico and the LeRoy lettering guides. The guides, actually templates, are flat strips of transparent celluloid with the design of various letters of the alphabet, punctuation marks and numerals, cut out as in a stencil. The guide is laid on paper and the desired letters formed by following the cut out letter design with pencil or pen and ink. The guide is moved as necessary, in order to bring the required letter stencil in place next to the letter already inked in, and its pattern traced. In other words, in forming the word "AND", the "A" stencil would first be traced, then the "N", and so on until • Continued on Page 254