This is about as generic of a slanted Roman lettering around.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=italicize+roman+lettering&start=0&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1C1AFAA_enUS432US483&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=WErFGlaop8JtOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.accurateimageinc.com/Cut%2520Metals/CutTimesNewRomanItalic.aspx&docid=A5PhmQzvUy-8yM&imgurl=http://www.accurateimageinc.com/Cut%252520Metals/CutMetalImages/CutTimesNewRmnItalicSet.gif&w=600&h=269&ei=jEyIUIDZBamT0QGpmIHQBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=173&vpy=164&dur=6596&hovh=150&hovw=336&tx=124&ty=77&sig=109076530223226293182&page=1&tbnh=108&tbnw=242&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:71There's probably hundreds of sub-types,,but this is a simple form I use. You can change the shapes a bit and angles as you want or need to. But the simplicity of the capital letters is what makes for somewhat easy lettering by an engraver. The most often done change is making any arcs into a series of small flats. An 'O' actually becomes an octagon.
That's done for ease of cutting usually. Some find cutting the arcs difficult, and cutting many arcs in a line of lettering to match even more so. Doing them in a series of line cuts does away with that and it looks fine.
'Italics' is the trade word for 'slanted' type or lettering I guess. I've just always called it slanted, cause that's what it is,,not much for details I guess.
Another trick doing lettering,, cut all the upright cuts (verticle) first. Do all of them from beginning to the end of the line. When doing slanted text, they will be at a predetermined angle of course (an angle you choose).
Draw them in first and stay with that angle as closely as possible.
One of those small adjustable squares that allows the blade to be clamped in any angle is great to quickly slide along an octagon bbl and scribe tiny quide lines for the verticle cuts.
Get into a comfortable position to cut. It really doesn't matter when doing block or roman style lettering if you do the upright cuts from the top down or from the bottom guide line to the top guide line.
Stay in the same position as you cut them and each cut will be more uniform in angle, depth and width as you go along than if you do each one separately from different positions and angles.
You can vary a bit and cut one side of the V and A as you go along, doing the opposing side later on when you do some of the odd shapes.
It's a very fast way to letter too.
Once those are cut, go back over and cut the Horizontals. Doesn't matter if it's the tops of the letters like the E's, F's T's,,or the bottom line cutting the E's, L's, ect. Do the bar of the A, H, P,R..
Don't cut the caps yet..just the letter parts.
Now you have the odd parts that you can do the same way by getting into a position to do them all at one time,,just fewer of them.
Do arcs of the O, D, C, ect. The smaller arcs of the P, R, B.
The 'S' gives people the most problem it seems. The B and the #8 aren't far behind.
Take your time.
Move around and complete the above letters in their rounded portions.
Remember you're doing things in portions, not trying to do an entire letter or number in one or two cuts.
As a final cut,,make all the caps from one end to the other in one run. Start at either end that is comfortable, top or bottom of the line, upside down or right side up.
You'll soon discover one way much more comfortable than another and gives a better looking finished look to the cut. It's all in how your wrist and arms turns and twists as you cut. Everyone is different so there's no one 'best' way.
Cut the caps right on the guide line. You can make them nothing more than a thin straight line over the top of each vertical. Or you can get a little fancy and with the diamond shaped point, tip that tool over toward the letter (not outside the guideline) and it will leave that triangular shaped cap on top of each verticle all in one cut.
With out lifting the tool off of the surface, let it glide forward to the next cap and again cut in and out. Triangle shape if you want,,straight thin line if you don't. Move it forward again,,till you come to the end of the lettering.
Only lift the tool off the surface and jump space between words. The tool should leave nothing more than a guide line type scratch between the caps you are cutting.
By keeping it on the surface you are insuring a nice straight top and bottom line to your lettering. Even if you verticals weren't perfectly cut to the guide lines,,the caps will make them appear as so.
After cutting the caps,,cut the serfs,,the tiny vertical hands off the ends of the horitontal lettering elements.
They do the same thing as caps in that they make nice even line lengths.
In any slanted lettering work,,make the serfs cut at the same angle as the vertical elements of the lettering you've cut. The serfs are very short, but if they aren't cut at the slight angle they won't look right. If they are cut at too much of an angle to the verticals,,they will look better than too little.
Remember that cutting all capital letters is easier than using lower case in roman or block lettering. Just use small size capitals for the 'lower case'. It's been done that way for a long time.
Don't squeeze the lettering,,,draw it out with plenty of room. The caps can be quite long and they will enhance the look of the lettering. Bunching letters too tightly together then trying to squeeze the caps and serfs in there looses it's effect.
