Tips & Tricks for Window Lettering
Let’s be honest, as fun as it seems to write on a window, it can be equally frustrating sometimes. The words are tilted, the lines crooked, the shapes unrecognizable and it all just looked way better in your head. Over the last two years I’ve been able to learn a lot about drawing and writing on windows and that’s why I’ll be sharing my tips and tricks here. Hopefully this will help in making your lettering a more satisfying experience for you!
How to letter on windows:
Make a sketch. I took a photo of my window and then drew on it on the Ipad with Procreate. If you don’t have an Ipad, you can simply draw the outlines of your window on paper and make your sketch there. This helps in shaping your overall vision and seeing what looks good and what doesn’t. It also majorly helps with the spacing. You’ll understand how long your words will be and where to place them.
Print out stencils. For the lettering this year I wanted to draw 5 pointed stars so they’d match the star wreath I had previously made.. I mean can anyone even draw them by hand so they are super even? I certainly can’t. So I printed out two stars in the size I wanted them to be on the window. You can then put a bit of tape on the paper and stick it to the other side of the window and simply trace the outlines!
Tape, tape, tape. It is just like lettering on paper you will want to give yourself guide lines. Put tape on the other side of the window for the base line and the top line of each word. This helps you to write in straight lines and to make the letters the same size.
Don’t let the paint dry. Chalk pens dry rather quickly and since they are meant to come off easily, they well… come off easily. So once dry, if you go over a line with the pen again, it will not make a new line but “erase”/scratch off the previous line. If you want to fill out letters you will want to do that as long as the paint is still wet.
Rest your hand. With the paint that comes off easily we have another problem. You will have problems resting your hand sometimes. (Which I need to in order to make straight lines) I find it helpful to hold a ruler with my left and and resting my hand on it.
Be nice to yourself. Man, drawing on a vertical, slippery surface is tricky! Be kind to yourself and don’t look at the couple lines that are not completely straight.
Sketch
