Printable calligraphy guide sheets
Baseline, x-height, ascender and slant guides at your chosen size.
About calligraphy guide sheets
Good practice paper shows you four things at once: where the baseline sits, how tall the x-height is, where ascenders and descenders end, and the slant you are aiming for. This generator draws all four so you can concentrate on the letterforms instead of the measurements.
Choosing a size
For broad-edge calligraphy, an x-height of about four times the nib width is a good starting point: roughly 8 mm for a 2 mm nib. Pointed-pen scripts usually use a smaller x-height and a steeper slant.
Common uses
Broad-edge and pointed-pen practice, lettering drills, workshop handouts.
Frequently asked questions
What x-height should I practise at?
For broad-edge scripts, set the x-height to about four times your nib width. For a 2 mm nib that is roughly 8 mm. Pointed-pen scripts often use 4 to 6 mm.
What slant angle do the guides use?
The slant guides are drawn at 55 degrees from horizontal, a common angle for italic and copperplate-derived hands. Use them as a reference, not a rule.