TypeMyNotesPleaseFilter: I periodically find myself in need of this service, which obviously must exist, yet I cannot find. I have a bunch of handwritten notes, not written with any kind of fancy smartpen, but rather, just pencil on paper. I would like to be able to scan said notes myself and send them to some kind of service wherein I can pay someone to type them up and send me back a decently formatted copy with a turnaround time of 12-24 hours. Who do I ask to do this? [more inside]
posted by zachlipton on Oct 29, 2009 - 11 answers

As a part of my academic research, I'm digging into the Edison Papers, and finding (mostly handwritten) archival materials from the late 19th century. I'm embarrassed to admit I can barely read the cursive handwriting of Edison and his colleagues. Does anyone know where I might find samples of 19th-century script to help me learn how to read this archival material? [more inside]
posted by Monsters on Oct 28, 2009 - 8 answers

I've started a course of study that involves making a lot of hand written notes. The thing is, I haven't written in years! [more inside]
posted by Mr_Thirdworld on Oct 10, 2009 - 10 answers

My (really not great) handwriting into pretty, pretty computer text? Is Livescribe the answer? [more inside]
posted by eb98jdb on Sep 23, 2009 - 4 answers

Bad Pen-me-ship Filter: I'd like to find a version of college ruled paper that has the faint middle line to keep me on track with letter formation. I'd really like the college ruled because it always looks funny when I am in a management meeting writing on first grader's training paper. [more inside]
posted by Draccy on Sep 17, 2009 - 12 answers

How do I achieve this in Photoshop? Photo included. [more inside]
posted by Brettus on Jul 12, 2009 - 15 answers

How can I develop more of an artist's eye? [more inside]
posted by pilibeen on Jul 1, 2009 - 18 answers

How can I cure my handwriting problems? [more inside]
posted by kitfreeman on Apr 2, 2009 - 18 answers

I'm looking for the words "amor fati" written in Nietzsche's own hand. [more inside]
posted by symbebekos on Dec 2, 2008 - 0 answers

Are you great at reading horrible handwriting? Your expertise is needed! Last year, I met one the most kind men I had ever come across while traveling through Europe. Unfortunately he gave me his address while rushing for a train and the handwriting of the street is pretty impossible for me to read. Can you decipher it? And if you happen to live in either Alicante, Spain or Rabat, Morocco, perhaps you know him? His name is Idrissi Hafid.
posted by mwachs on Oct 6, 2008 - 10 answers

I want to be able to write an impressive signature, much in the style of some aristocratic 19th century English speaker. But I can't find any images collections with these kinds of signatures, in order look at them and get ideas or mimic them for my own signature. Surely the Hive-Mind knows if there's a source out there with this kind of info?
posted by archae on Sep 23, 2008 - 10 answers

What's the proper way to write ampersands ("&") by hand? [more inside]
posted by dicetumbler on Aug 10, 2008 - 25 answers

How do I physically write faster? [more inside]
posted by ajp on Feb 18, 2008 - 21 answers

Help with old / smudged handwriting on the back of a Civil War photo. [more inside]
posted by marxchivist on Nov 30, 2007 - 50 answers

Where can I begin to learn or practice calligraphy in Southern California? [more inside]
posted by Asherah on Nov 27, 2007 - 2 answers

I'm looking for a website that had users draw each letter of the alphabet with their mouse and then overlaid each drawing of a given letter on one another to create an "average" typeface that looked remarkably crisp and professional. What was the site? [more inside]
posted by jacob on Jul 27, 2007 - 8 answers

Thinking of getting a graphics tablet to replace my keyboard as much as possible. Do I need to spring for something high-end, or are the cheaper / smaller tablets good enough to write with? [more inside]
posted by lullabyofbirdland on Jun 19, 2007 - 7 answers

Gel pens: Help me learn to make them perform consistently. [more inside]
posted by knave on Apr 10, 2007 - 9 answers

My handwriting is so bad, I should probably start completely over and re-learn how to write. How can I do this? [more inside]
posted by comwiz on Apr 8, 2007 - 27 answers

Did you ever have your handwriting analyzed by a professional graphologist? What did you learn about yourself? What does it cost? Was it worth it?
posted by stupidsexyFlanders on Mar 28, 2007 - 12 answers

Why do most doctors have sloppy handwriting? [more inside]
posted by lorbus on Jan 16, 2007 - 26 answers

How rude is it really to use a printer and a nice calligraphy or script font to print addresses on wedding invitation envelopes? [more inside]
posted by tastybrains on Aug 5, 2006 - 54 answers

Where can I find examples of nice looking "fonts" for writing by hand, in block letters? Script? [more inside]
posted by lorrer on Feb 6, 2006 - 7 answers

How do I improve my handwriting? [more inside]
posted by hugo on Feb 6, 2006 - 17 answers

(Free) Unicode-compatible Hebrew modern handwriting fonts [more inside]
posted by Gnatcho on Jan 11, 2006 - 3 answers

Computer Peripheral Filter: I am looking for a device (other than a plotter) which I can hook up to a computer which can then generate text that looks hand written. I know you can get handwriting TT fonts , but the documents produced do not really look hand written. Getting a plotter is a last resort. I'm pretty sure I have heard of a device that will do what I need, but I can't seem to google it. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
posted by wisdom-seeker on Dec 16, 2005 - 9 answers

Why do they bother to teach us cursive in school? [more inside]
posted by afroblanca on Sep 25, 2005 - 102 answers

PenFilter: I'm looking for a semi-cheap and absolutely reliable italic-nib pen for everyday (medium-to-heavy) use. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by terceiro on Apr 5, 2005 - 2 answers

I need to find a font that has "1st grade letters." In other words, block letters (small, not caps) that are the shape / kind that we all learned to hand print in 1st grade. All the simple, clean, fonts that I have found type the "a" with the curled line above the circle. I need a font that shows the "a" as a circle with a straight line descending down at a slight angle. Another example: the "q"-- I need the font (or fonts, if this will take a few) to show the "q" with a curled tail-- the way one would teach a 6 year old to write it. Also, I need the font to be super clean and not "handwritten." I have found a comic sort of font that has the right letter shapes, but it is too frilly / ornate. Imagine a primary school reader... those are the letters I want! I tried to go to a font site, but with 20,000 fonts I felt like I was looking for the (cliche warning:) needle in a haystack. Any font gurus out there know exactly what I should get and where to get it? Last: free beats expensive, but I am willing to pay if the font site is selling it.
posted by limitedpie on Sep 11, 2004 - 6 answers

Is it possible for someone to improve their handwriting later in life, say at the age of 40? Do you have any tales of inspiration or warning?

I mostly print, and would like to teach myself to print more neatly, something like the font Comic Sans.

I suppose the broader question I'm asking is if its possible to acquire any number of skills (playing piano, drawing) later in life. Not sure why this appeals to me, perhaps it's a midlife crisis avoidance ritual or something.
posted by mecran01 on Jul 27, 2004 - 22 answers

I'd like to learn shorthand, to help take notes quicker and more efficiently. (Ideally, teach myself.) Any suggestions?
posted by gottabefunky on Mar 12, 2004 - 2 answers