How to print your Copperplate practice sheets

This checklist is for the printable Artful Hand Studio PDFs. If you bought the physical workbook, use its printed pages; a PDF download is not included with that product.

1. Check the file and choose your pages

Open the downloaded PDF and check its printing instructions. The free sampler and complete printable bundle use A4 pages. Select the exercises you need instead of printing the whole file every time.

For the free 13-page sampler, the practice pages are PDF pages 2–12. Keep its introduction available for the printing and practice notes.

2. Preserve the guide size

Select A4 paper and 100% / Actual Size in the print dialog. Check that the orientation matches the page. Turn off Fit to Page or other automatic scaling. Inspect the preview for clipped edges, then print a single page before starting a larger batch.

If your printer clips an edge at actual size, check its printable area and the PDF instructions before changing the scale. Reducing the page also reduces the guides.

3. Test the paper with your own nib and ink

Use smooth paper suited to your writing tools and supported by your printer. On the test sheet, try a light stroke, a shaded stroke and a small oval. Check for catching, spreading or ink showing through before printing more pages. The paper guide explains what to compare.

4. Practise one thing at a time

Choose a single stroke, letter family or connection. Work slowly, compare a few repetitions and choose one adjustment for the next line. Keep an unused copy of the exercise so you can repeat it later.

The guide to using practice sheets and moving towards freehand writing develops this method.

Choose your next exercise

• Basic strokes for pressure and release.
• Lowercase letters for letter families.
• Connections for joins and spacing.
• Printable workbooks for more structured practice.

Print and use downloaded files for your own personal practice. Do not redistribute or resell them.