The two modes may be contrasted broadly, thus--
MASSED WRITING (Lines near FINE WRITING (Lines spaced together.) and separated.)
Has an effect of richness, Has an effect of elegance, depending depending on tone of mass and on form of letters and distinct close, even spacing. arrangement of lines.
Simple method (for ordinary Refined method (for special use); use); saving of time and lavish of space and time, @ space, @ suited for long suited for large spaces or short inscriptions or small spaces. inscriptions.
Lines generally of equal Lines may be of unequal length, length, or if some fall giving irregular, right-hand edge, short, end-fillings may be as in poetry (see p. 263)--gaps used--gaps are avoided if allowed on either side. [p263] possible.
Ascending and descending Stems--medium or long: long stems stems--medium or short: often a marked feature, ending in serifs simple, and not carefully made heads and feed, strongly marked. or flourishes.
Suited for slanted-pen forms Suited for _straight and slanted_ of "gothic" tendency, and pen forms of "roman" tendency, heavy, black writing and slender, light writing (example, "black letter").^* (example, "Italic").^
*Requires generally contrasts Allows variety in size of Letters of colour or weight (p. (see pp. 298, 328): its typical 330), and will bear more treatment is as plain, fine and heavier illumination lettering--better without (Line-fillings, Initials, heavy Borders, &c. (p. 299). Borders, &c.).
____________________ * NOTE.--Both modes are suited for _Roman Capitals and Small-Letters_.
These two modes may not have been recognised by the ancient letter-craftsmen: their comparison here is intended chiefly as a stimulus to definite thought, _not_ as a hard-and-fast division of two "styles"; for there may be any number of possible compromises between them. In practice, however, it will be found convenient to distinguish them as _two modes of treating_ LINES OF WRITING _which produce markedly different effects, the one, as it were, of_ COLOUR, _the other of_ FORM.
Plates XI., XIII., XIV., XV., XVII. may be taken as examples of "Massed Writing," Plates IV., V., VI., VII., IX., (XXI.) of "Fine Writing"; the other plates suggest compromises between the two.