Printable Arabic calligraphy guide sheet (PDF)

In Arabic calligraphy everything is measured in dots, the rhombuses the qalam leaves: in naskh, the alif is about 5 and letters drop about 3 below the line. It is written right to left.

Width, in mm

In dots

Dots below the line

Degrees from horizontal; 90, upright

mm between slant lines

mm between lines

Reset values

Print it at actual size (100%, without “fit to page”) so the measurements are exact.

neografo · Arabic calligraphy · qalam 3 mm · alif: 5 dots (15 mm) · below the line: 3 dots · uprightneografo.com/en/guidesThe QR code opens this guide on neografo, with everything as it is here.

8 lines per sheet · Arabic calligraphy · qalam 3 mm · alif: 5 dots (15 mm) · below the line: 3 dots · upright

How to read the guide sheet

  • The strongest line is the baseline; the one above marks the alif height and the dashed one how far letters drop.
  • The rhombuses in the right margin are dots the width of your qalam: every letter is measured with them.
  • The slant lines help you keep the same angle in every letter.
  • The QR code at the bottom opens this same guide on neografo, with all its values: to print it again or change something. If the model's font is no longer available, another one of the style is used.

Want to learn the style? Check the tutorials or share your practice in resources.