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iOS app: How to work on one character before moving on?

lechuan   June 14th, 2012 11:03p.m.

I'm pretty new to drawing characters, and tend to draw them rather ugly.

I turned on the 'Raw Squigs' option so I can compare what I drew with the character.

What I would like to do is be able to practice drawing the same character over and over before moving on. In between each drawing of the character I'd like to be able to clear the slate (ie. start fresh with nothing showing), and then redraw so that I can compare what I've drawn with the guide. Only once I'm satisfied do I want to move on to the next character in.

The reason for this is that although my character is marked as write, I often have drawn some parts out of proportion or not in a very good angle, etc. If I wait for it to come back again in the cycle, I often forget what was wrong with how I drew it last time, which is why I'd like to repeat it over and over.

Is something like this possible in the iOS app?

Thanks,
lechuan

podster   June 14th, 2012 11:15p.m.

lechuan,
after you draw the character, if Skritter advances to the next character, you can always go back by single tapping on the left side of the screen. Then erase the character with a rapid upward vertical stroke. You can then write the character again. You can do this repeatedly as much as you want.

I would suggest that if you are a fairly new learner and getting used to the balance and aesthetics of the characters you might want to practice on paper, maybe even doing some tracing, while using Skritter for what it is best at; spaced repetition reinforcement. I myself often like to repeat words in Skritter that I have completely messed up, but for the most part I think it is best to blast ahead so that you keep getting reinforced on the words you are learning using the Skritter SRS algorithm.

lechuan   June 14th, 2012 11:23p.m.

Thanks Podster! The upstroke does exactly what I wanted! I also turned-off auto-advance, so I can move to the net character when I want to.

I'll have to take a stab at doing some character writing on paper, I do wonder how well the ability to write nicely on screen translates into the ability to write nicely on paper.

alxx   June 15th, 2012 12:47a.m.

I like to do this with a fountain pen or dip pen.

You can get the parker calligraphy sets fairly cheap on ebay - parker vector

e.g http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Parker-Vector-Calligraphy-Fountain-Pen-Set-F-M-B-nibs-w-Instructional-CD-/390428686691?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae75cf963#ht_681wt_1053

A few others do some similar sets. monte marte ,lamy windor and newton etc

The cartridge type are a lot easier and less messy to use than dip pens or the pens with ink pump/bladder

steadler and others make marker type calligraphy sets

tedtick   June 15th, 2012 6:58a.m.

Where does one get paper with boxes and guide lines ore-printed on it? In China I found some practice books for children but cannot find them in the US.

MW   June 15th, 2012 9:16a.m.
icebear   June 15th, 2012 10:52a.m.
Catherine :)   June 15th, 2012 10:59a.m.

@icebear
Thanks for posting that! I was looking for that link recently to start using it again but couldn't find it :)
@lechuan
I'd recommend the link above!

paddy665   June 16th, 2012 9:10a.m.

paper is so 2004

tedtick   June 16th, 2012 3:10p.m.

Thanks for posting the practice sheet links, much appreciated!

lechuan   June 19th, 2012 7:46p.m.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

My current goal is to write recognizably (not beautifully), so I think I'll stick with the onscreen writing (writing new characters multiple times using a 'swipe up' to erase. Fortunately, I find that my pencil writing has improved for characters that I've practiced on skritter. If I do get into manual writing, I'll definitely check out hanzigrids.com

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