In this quick and easy tutorial, you’ll transform your handwriting into beautiful, sellable art with the 4 S’s of Script! Learn my simple method (all done in Procreate) to create polished lettering for projects like greeting cards. Grab your free brush set below and start designing!
Watch the Tutorial
If you’re a see it on “paper” person, keep reading below. Otherwise, check out this quick video tutorial in my iPad Art Break Series on Youtube:
HELPFUL LINKS
The Steps
1. Set Up Your Canvas. Start by creating a canvas sized for your project. I use a greeting card template from Printify for my Etsy shop, and I recommend making your canvas larger than needed. For this tutorial, my canvas size is 6839 x 4500 pixels, which allows flexibility if you need to adjust the design later. Screenshotting the template ensures you know where your design will be cut.
2. Draw Your Initial Guidelines and Sketch. To begin your script, sketch loose guidelines to place your text. I prefer a freehand, organic approach, which adds a more human touch. Using the sketching pencil from the Everything Bagel Brush Set, write out your phrase. This first draft doesn’t need to be perfect; it’s just about getting the composition and scale right.
3. Assess Your Lettering: The Four S’s. Now that you have a rough sketch, it’s time to refine it using my four S’s of script: Slant, Shape, Slices, and Spacing.
Slant: Check the angle of your letters. They should follow a consistent slant throughout.
Shape: Decide on the shape style (round or oval) and ensure each letter matches it.
Slices: Avoid cutting off parts of letters, ensuring each has a complete form.
Spacing: Maintain even spacing between letters to give a balanced, cohesive look.
These steps help create a polished and professional script.
4. Refine and Adjust Your Sketch. With your guidelines set, refine your letters to correct any inconsistencies. Use the Freehand Selection Tool to adjust individual letters, ensuring they match your desired slant, shape, and spacing. If any letters look tight or squished, give them room to breathe by adjusting their size or position. This is where your script starts taking a more defined form. Tip: Use the Dual Pencil for thick lines.
5. Add Decorative Elements. It’s time to decorate your design. I like to add flowers and other decorative shapes that complement the script, tucking them around the letters to create a cohesive, flowing composition. You can be as creative as you want here, experimenting with different elements to see what fits best.
6. Ink Your Final Script, Color and Final Touches. Once your refined sketch is ready, it’s time to ink and adding color. Start by experimenting with different color palettes for the background and the script. You can also adjust the size and position of your design to ensure it fits well within the card’s layout. The goal is to create a product that’s eye-catching and ready for sale.
BUT WILL IT ACTUALLY SELL?
Yes! Script designs on greeting cards are always popular, especially when they feel personal and hand-crafted. I recommend printing through a service like Printify, which handles everything from printing to shipping, making it easy to sell your designs on Etsy without managing stock. Check out my blog post on The Less Saturated Version of Print-on-Demand for more details on how to get started.
Script Class: Master the Four S's of Script
- If you’re struggling to find your style or perfect your script, consider taking my hand lettering script class.
- It covers the entire process of creating refined, sellable script designs, complete with a workbook of exercises, quote ideas, and step-by-step tutorials to help you master the four S’s of script.
