Chalkboard lettering is an art form. It’s a creative way to convey a message to customers rather than using the standard lettering that people see in restaurants. It always makes a message appear bigger and brighter and manages to turn heads. Check out these tips and tricks for perfect chalkboard lettering.

Spring for the Good Stuff

Don’t go cheap when it comes to supplies. You need high-quality chalk markers to produce the best results. The markers need to be up to the job because you don’t want to deal with running chalk markers.

Cheap markers will cause that, and you’ll need to constantly wipe the board to clear the excessive mess. The letters will start to smudge as well. Get some good-quality markers so that you don’t run into any of these problems.

Adjust the Width and Spacing

Chalkboard markers come in various sizes. They can be as small as .5mm (extra fine) and as large as 15mm (bold). However, for most boards, it’s best to go with a medium-sized marker. A 6mm (chisel tip) type is the most common one. The 15mm markers look great but are a little harder to control on smaller boards.

Use 1mm markers for smaller boards or letters that require thin and fine lettering. Plan a layout of the words and images you want to write on the board. Use a ruler to perfect the measurements and evenly space out the sentences and images.

Prime and Prep the Supplies

Prime and prep all the supplies you plan to use. Aside from getting your markers together, you need to wipe down the board and remove any previous residue. Old markings could mix in with the current liquid chalk marker and distort the message and image.

Don’t pump the nibs of the markers too much because that’ll soak the tips. Too much pumping could cause the markers to leak and drip on the board, even if they’re high quality. Shake the pen vertically a few times, then press down firmly on the board when ready to use.

Avoid Retracing Letters

Never retrace the letters. You might get the urge to retrace when the first try gets messed up. However, going over the words again will only further enhance the mistakes.

Instead, write slowly the first time and don’t rush. Set aside enough time to finish the task without getting interrupted. If some mistakes still appear, you can fix them after the first application dries.

Let It All Dry

Speaking of drying, that’s our final tip. Let the letters and images dry completely. It won’t take much time for them to finish. Most chalk markers complete a drying cycle in about 60 seconds.

Then you can add shading into the mix. Never use a different color of chalk on another. Even if you use adhesive labels to perfect the letters, you want to allow for plenty of drying time.

At Chalk Ink®, we have every tip and trick you need to perfect your messages and chalkboard lettering for customers to review. For more information, visit our website.