Personalized Engraved Gifts by CNS Direct

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Helpful Hints for Selecting Copy Styles
and Making Inscription Choices

Note:
You can choose a copy style and enter an inscription for each product that offers engraving. Engraving will be done based on the experienced opinion of our engraver. Our engraver will use her expertise, best judgment and artistic talents for choices such as spacing, character size, case selection, and position.

Should you have questions that this style guide does not answer, please feel free to ask our engraver.
engraver@cnsdirect.com

Three Line Old English

If engraving names, Old English looks best when engraved in an "Uppercase / Lowercase" format. In this format names begin with an Uppercase letter and all other letters are done in Lowercase (for example: John). We engrave in this fashion unless the experienced judgment of our engraver dictates otherwise.
If engraving initials, Old English will be engraved in all capital lettering.
Old English looks best engraved on masculine gift items, steins, mugs, money clips, and other gifts for men.

Double Line Century

If engraving names, Double Line Century looks very nice in ALL CAPS.
If engraving initials, ALL CAPS is the best choice. We engrave in this fashion.
Double Line Century is a good all around choice for most items, pens, mugs, steins, money clips, key rings, plaques and some frames.

Special Note About Script Letter styles

Script letter styles are our most popular letter styles and they are very attractive. We normally engrave script lettering using an Upper Lower Case format. Sometimes all UPPER case lettering can be unappealing or difficult to read if engraved in a script letter style. Consider this example, the initials REA when engraved using a script letter styleNotice how the letters appear the be unevenly spaced, when actually they are evenly spaced. The unevenness is caused by the slant of the lettering. Consider this line written using ALL UPPER case lettering.The line reads JOHN LOVES JILL. Notice how difficult it is to read.
Please consider entering your inscriptions using Upper Lower case formatting when selecting a Script Letter Style.

Double Line Script

Double Line Script has a sharp slant to it. It works well for engraving names and longer inscriptions. However, the slant can cause the inscription to look off center if the inscription is very short, such as when engraving just a single initial on an item. For a single initial, we recommend using either Upright Script or a single character from the InterLocking Monogram copy style instead.

If engraving names, Double Line Script looks best in an "Uppercase / Lowercase" format. In this format names begin with an Uppercase letter and all other letters are done in Lowercase (for example: Jane). We engrave in this fashion, unless the experienced judgment of our engraver dictates otherwise.
If engraving initials, Double Line Script will be engraved in all capital lettering.
Double Line Script looks best engraved on feminine gift items, trinket and jewelry boxes, key rings, some frames and name plates for ladies gifts.

Upright Script

Our Upright Script works really well in small places or when engraving a single letter. Unlike Double Line Script or Two Line Shelly it doesn’t have a slant. This makes the letter very readable when engraved in small areas or when a slanted letter might look off-center. For a single initial, we recommend using either an Upright Script character or a single character from the InterLocking Monogram letter style.

If engraving names, Upright Script looks best in an "Uppercase / Lowercase" format. In this format names begin with an Uppercase letter and all other letters are done in Lowercase (for example: Jane). We engrave in this fashion, unless the experienced judgment of our engraver dictates otherwise.
If engraving initials, Upright Script will be engraved in all capital lettering.

Two Line Shelly

Two Line Shelly has a sharp slant to it. It works well for engraving names and longer inscriptions. However, the slant can cause the inscription to look off center if the inscription is very short, such as when engraving just a single initial on an item. For a single initial, we recommend using a single character from the InterLocking Monogram copy style instead.

If engraving names, Two Line Shelly looks best in an "Uppercase / Lowercase" format. In this format names begin with an Uppercase letter and all other letters are done in Lowercase (for example: Jane). We engrave in this fashion, unless the experienced judgment of our engraver dictates otherwise.
If engraving initials, Two Line Shelly will be engraved in all capital lettering.
Two Line Shelly looks best engraved on feminine gift items, trinket and jewelry boxes, key rings, some frames and name plates for ladies gifts.

Single Line Cursive

Single Line Cursive works well for engraving names and dates on small objects.

If engraving names, Single Line Cursive looks best in an "Uppercase / Lowercase" format. In this format names begin with an Uppercase letter and all other letters are done in Lowercase (for example: Jane). We engrave in this fashion, unless the experienced judgment of our engraver dictates otherwise.
If engraving initials, Single Line Cursive will be engraved in all capital lettering.
Single Line Cursive looks best engraved on baby or feminine gift items, boxes, trinket and jewelry boxes, key rings, some frames and name plates for ladies gifts.

Four Line Roman

If engraving names, Four Line Roman looks very nice in an upper/lower case format. Items with names only are usually engraved in this fashion.
If engraving initials, ALL CAPS is the best choice. We engrave in this fashion.
Four Line Roman is a good all around choice for many items, money clips, key rings, albums, beer glasses, plaques and some frames.

Three Line Roman

If engraving names, Three Line Roman looks very nice in an upper/lower case format. Items with names only are usually engraved in this fashion.
If engraving initials, ALL CAPS is the best choice. We engrave in this fashion.
Three Line Roman is a good all around choice for many items, money clips, key rings, albums, beer glasses, plaques and some frames.

InterLocking Monogram

Initial monograms are normally engraved with the Last initial in the center, the first initial on the left of it and the middle initial on the right. For example: if the name were "Kaitlynn Marie Jones" your inscription would be entered as KJM. Your monogram will be engraved exactly in the order you specify in the inscription field for the item.
InterLocking Monograms are large; they require two lines to engrave.
Dates can be engraved under your InterLocking Monogram if you desire, but ONLY when the engraving area for the item allows for the additional engraving (typically an item with 3 or more lines of engraving space). The date will be engraved in Double Line Script, unless otherwise requested. This choice is only available on items with three or more lines of space to engrave.
InterLocking Monograms look best engraved of items for women, trinket and jewelry boxes, key rings, and name plates for ladies gifts.
Also works well if engraving a single large initial on an item, like might be done on a trinket or jewelry box.

Circle Monogram

Initial monograms are normally engraved with the Last initial in the center, the first initial on the left of it and the middle initial on the right. For example: if the name were "Kevin Mathew Jones" your inscription would be entered as KJM. Your monogram will be engraved exactly in the order you specify in the inscription field for the item.
Circle Monograms are large; they require two lines to engrave.
Dates can be engraved under your Circle Monogram if room is available, but ONLY when the engraving area for the item allows for the additional engraving (typically an item with 3 or more lines of engraving space). The date will be engraved in Double Line Century. This choice is only available on items with three or more lines of space to engrave.
Circle Monograms look best engraved of items for men, on larger items, flasks, money clips, some keepsake boxes and some key rings.

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