This book reveals the secrets of a mysterious and artistic trade. Before the age of neon lights and digital screens, signs and billboards were painted by professional sign painters, and James Gardiner dives into the most intricate details of the art. The purpose of different fonts, the shape and size of letters, the layout of the sign, even the materials used to produce various colours and paint on different surfaces, it's all there, displayed in illustrations when possible. Although the book is intended for sign painting, most of the information can be applied in other calligraphy fields. There are many who still find it an expressive and beautiful form of art. Anyone passionate about art in general and calligraphy in particular will find much pleasure reading this small and insightful book. "Perfection is not claimed for this more than for any other work of the kind, but what is claimed for it is that it contains more real practical and valuable information to the Sign Painter than has ever before been presented to him in a published form."