Tip Top Type
Transform Your Lettering from Good to Great with this Game-Changing Course
A lettering course designed to transform your lettering from good to great!
Introducing Tip Top Type
I've rounded up my top tips, tricks, and perspectives on lettering that can give your skills a HUGE boost.
These are some of the most important things I’ve learned as a letterer—conveniently distilled into one digestible course.
These are some of the most important things I’ve learned as a letterer—conveniently distilled into one digestible course.
You're closer to your lettering goals than you think...
When I found lettering, something inside me lit up. For a while, I let it simmer in the background because I never thought I could get good enough to really do lettering as a career. But the passion I felt for the craft continued to grow (despite my inner critic telling me I couldn’t possibly go for it) until I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
When I started getting more serious about lettering, my whole world opened up, and I found myself on a brand new path. Turns out my inner critic was wrong—dead wrong. Once I began devoting real time and focus to lettering, I started seeing improvement in leaps and bounds. I even began getting real paying lettering gigs from real clients!
Years later, I’ve lettered for brands like Amazon Music, American Greetings, and Penguin Random House and seen my work on everything from book covers and greeting cards to magazines and more!
When I started getting more serious about lettering, my whole world opened up, and I found myself on a brand new path. Turns out my inner critic was wrong—dead wrong. Once I began devoting real time and focus to lettering, I started seeing improvement in leaps and bounds. I even began getting real paying lettering gigs from real clients!
Years later, I’ve lettered for brands like Amazon Music, American Greetings, and Penguin Random House and seen my work on everything from book covers and greeting cards to magazines and more!
Here's What You'll Learn...
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The basic building blocks and terminology of lettering
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How to construct letterforms with confidence (while avoiding common mistakes!)
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How to account for the strange optical tricks our eyes play on us
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Tips for creating successful and balanced layouts
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Keys to transforming your work with depth, texture, and embellishments
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How to use color to your advantage
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Strategies for referencing and learning from observation
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Plus a lot more...
I’m Katie, your lettering instructor!
I’m an art director turned letterer living and working as a full-time artist in Austin, TX. I’ve worked with brands like Amazon Music, Penguin Random House, and American Greetings creating lettering for all sorts of projects—from greeting cards to book covers and advertising campaigns.
I really enjoy digging deep into the details, which manifests itself in lots of ways in my life. I love learning about topics I’m passionate about and getting into the minutiae. And even more than that, I love distilling and sharing what I’ve learned with others!
Also, if you check out my work, you’ll probably notice I’m a fan of visual details as well—things like ornaments, flourishes, and embellishments that really make a piece of lettering come to life. You’ll find some helpful tips about embellishments in this class as well (because, of course, I just couldn’t help myself).
I really enjoy digging deep into the details, which manifests itself in lots of ways in my life. I love learning about topics I’m passionate about and getting into the minutiae. And even more than that, I love distilling and sharing what I’ve learned with others!
Also, if you check out my work, you’ll probably notice I’m a fan of visual details as well—things like ornaments, flourishes, and embellishments that really make a piece of lettering come to life. You’ll find some helpful tips about embellishments in this class as well (because, of course, I just couldn’t help myself).
Course curriculum
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01
Tip Top Type
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Welcome to Class
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Crash Course On The Basics
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The Trick to Thicks and Thins
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Our Eyes Are Dirty Liars
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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All Forms of Letterforms
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Common Letterform Mistakes
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Layout Tips for Winners
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Intro to Effects & Embellishments
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Texture is Terrific
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Getting Deep With Depth
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Ornaments Everywhere
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Flourish Like a Pro
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Coping With Color
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Wrapping Up
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Books You Need to Have
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FAQ
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What lettering experience is needed to take this course?
I designed this course to work for beginners up to intermediate letterers! But there are juicy nugs of information and insights in here that will hopefully cause some lightbulb moments for everyone!
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Should I take this as my first lettering course?
Totally. I think this would be a GREAT first lettering course and will give you a super solid overview of the craft. Just realize that you may not pick up every single thing right off the bat, and that’s okay, because you can come back to these lessons any time you want.
I’ve done my best to make this course very clear and concise, using tons of visual examples. Plus, I share plenty of extra resources if you need some extra time to study up on your own. -
What tools do I need to take this course?
Nada. A pencil and paper will do perfectly when you’re ready to start lettering (I talk about tools you might want to check out in class), but to follow along with the lessons, you only need to bring your brain.
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When will I get access to the lessons?
As soon as you purchase the course! Woo hoo!
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How long will I have access to this course?
You'll get lifetime access (or, you know, for the foreseeable future...if I get swallowed by a shark or something, I may not be able to make good on that...).
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Is this class about calligraphy?
Nope, it's about lettering, which is different but related! Calligraphy is beautiful writing, and lettering is more like illustrating letters (that's the first thing I teach in class!) While I love and appreciate calligraphy, I'll leave the calligraphy education to the experts! (Check out my friend Becca's resources at www.thehappyevercrafter.com)