Spacing.—Proper spacing is essential to a good Inscription. As a general rule, Roman letters should not be crowded together. Space should be left between each, varying according to the letters—a narrower space between two O’s, for example, and, generally, a wider space between two straight letters. The lines may be about the height of the lettering apart (see [Plate I.]) or pretty close together (see [Plate XXIV.]).
Margins.—If the Inscription is to be carved in a panel, the surrounding mouldings take the place of margins, and the lettering may fill the panel (see fig. [211]). If any space be left, let it come, as it [p395] naturally will, at the bottom. If the lettering is not to be in a panel, the margins depend primarily on what the carver can afford, and where the Inscription is to go. Every case must be treated on its own merits, but as a general rule one may say that the bottom margin should be the widest and the top margin the narrowest.
THE MATERIAL
The best quality a stone can have, from a letter-cutter’s point of view, is fineness or closeness of texture, combined with freedom from holes and flints or occasional shells, and the letter-cutter will do well to choose the stone himself, if possible, having regard to this quality.
The following is a list of a few of the best stones for outdoor and indoor use:—
- Outdoors or Indoors.
- Portland.—Especially good for lettering on account of its fineness and its excellent weathering qualities, for it not only hardens on the surface, but also becomes quite white if exposed to wind and rain, thus showing very clearly any differences of light and shade.
- Hoptonwood
Slate - Fine and hard: good weathering qualities. Great delicacy may be attained in these.
- Ancaster
Ham-Hill
Ketton - Only suitable for large lettering.
- Indoors only.
- Clunch
Chalk - Very fine and delicate work may be done in these.
- Bath.—A cheap stone, and easily carved; but unsuitable for small lettering.
- Marbles and Alabasters.—Excellent for Inscriptions indoors, but much colour or veining tends to confuse lettering.
- Clunch
SETTING OUT
The stone being ready for the setting out, i.e. smoothed and cleaned, lines are ruled on it for the lines of lettering and margins with a pencil or point. If the Inscription is to be arranged “Symmetrically,” a centre line is ruled from top to bottom.
The carver should rule and set out one line and carve that before ruling another, as pencil marks are liable to be rubbed off by the hand in carving.[124]