Paper Grid Generator
Hola! I created this practice grid paper generator to make it easier to create the exact paper you need for your lettering, handwriting, planning, and creative practice. You can customize my recommendations for each paper with your own preferences for calligraphy guides, handwriting sheets, dotted paper, and ruled paper. Just select the spacing, line style, and layout that fit you in the best way.
I also included a section where you can also find all the printed grid paper pads I have available to purchase on Amazon, additionally, you can also just download and print them at home =] I hope you enjoy this resource! Happy writing!
Paper Grid Print Recommendations
Ok, so after you download the paper grids, there are two different ways to practice: digitally with an iPad and physically with paper and pen. Since working with your iPad is pretty straightforward, I wanted to focus on the pen and paper option. Below I will cover the main three ways to print and practice using printed paper grids.
A – Print once + use tracing paper
One of the easiest and most economical ways to practice is to print just one copy of the paper grids on regular printer paper and then place tracing paper on top to practice your strokes, letters, or handwriting.
Simply place the tracing paper over the grid paper and practice as many times as you’d like.
This method is great because:
- It saves a lot of printer ink since you only print once.
- It protects your brush pens from fraying, since tracing paper is much gentler on the tips than standard paper.
Strathmore tracing paper
This Strathmore tracing paper has been my favorite since my college years. It’s a staple of my studio. It has 50 sheets and measures 9×12 inches.
Canson tracing paper
This is my second favorite paper for inking and also for brush calligraphy since it’s super smooth and it does not absorb all the ink as some do. But because of this, you need to be careful and wait for the ink to dry, or you will have a mess in your hands and on your paper!
B – Light pad + brush-friendly paper.
Another wonderful option is to use a Lightbox (or light pad) together with a smooth brush-pen-friendly paper, like a Rhodia pad or higher-quality print paper like the ones I link to below.
This method works beautifully because it lets you practice on smooth, higher-quality paper, which helps your pens last longer and gives you cleaner, smoother strokes. To do this:
- 1) Place the printed paper grid on the Lightbox.
- 2) Place your practice paper or pad on top of it.
- 3) Turn on the light and practice your strokes or letters.
Cricut BrightPad
I’ve had my BrightPad for 6 years now, and it still works so nicely! I have both corded and battery, but I definitely recommend the battery one.
Light Pad
I am such a fan of this little light pad from Amazon. It’s much more economical than all the other ones I have and performs so similarly.
Light Pad with stand
I actually recently tested this pad because I love that it has magnets and a stand, on top of being rechargeable. I think they managed to add everything I had on my wishlist for a light pad. I love it!
C – Printing multiple copies
If you prefer to practice directly on the paper grids, I recommend using a higher-quality paper to print them, like HP Printer Paper or Hammermill 32lb. Instead of standard printer paper.
The main benefit of using a thicker, smoother paper is that it will help your brush pens glide easily across the page and keep them in good shape for longer (less fraying for longer practice sessions).
So while the paper is a bit more costly, it’s a good way to save money eventually because your brush pens will last you that much longer.
HP Paper pack
A great alternative of the same weight and smoothness, since the HP sells out all the time.
Hammermill Paper
A great alternative of the same weight and smoothness, since the HP sells out all the time.
1 – Printed Handwriting paper pads
All pads are glue-bound (no spiral) and have grids on both sides of the pages. They all have 120 pages (60 sheets) for practice and both cursive and print alphabet samples in the back of the pads.
The handwriting pads, just like all other pads, are printed using regular copy paper, so if you are using expensive brush pens, please get a pad of tracing paper and place it on top of your page. If you are using them with pencils or non-bleeding ink, tracing paper is not necessary.
Wide-ruled handwriting paper pad: This is the grid I used for the handwriting books for kids.
The same handwriting pad with a baseline marker, but set horizontally for longer lines.
If you are looking for instructions on how to write the alphabet, I created these books for kids (print handwriting) and (cursive handwriting). The adult version is in the works right now. =]
If you want to print the grids at home, I recommend this smooth copy paper.
2 – Printed Square Grid + Dotted Paper Pads
All pads are glue-bound (no spiral) and have grids on both sides of the pages. They all have 120 pages (60 sheets) for practice and 4 pages of basic instructions.
Perfect for math and writing. With 4 squares per inch, it’s perfect for medium letters!
With half-inch squares, this simple square grid notebook is perfect for math and drawing.
This dotted pad is perfect for creating thumbnails for your hand-lettering sketches.
Shop my Procreate Brush Bundle
40+ handcrafted brushes to supercharge your use of the Procreate app on your iPad. I am sharing all my favorite brushes, the exact same ones I made to use with all my digital projects.
HowJoyful Fonts
Would you like to add a handmade feel to your projects? Check out my hand-lettered fonts, each with their own character and style.
