Help me out here, friends...

[ramblin_rosie]

... because I just can't get this math to work out right.
I'm trying to do a poster-sized calligraphy piece with title, three columns of text, and a fairly intricate border that has to be done linearly and laid out in a spiral (straight line up one side, across the top, down the other side, across the bottom, etc.)--kind of like ribbon. I have a roll of watercolor paper, so I can cut the piece to whatever size I need. And I'm currently figuring 1.75" margins to leave room for the border and 2" total space for the title, though those numbers are somewhat flexible; if I dispense with the border, I'd figure 1" margins. The border pattern is 1/4" wide, with the first/outermost round currently centered at 1/2" from the edge of the paper, and I've left 1/16" space between rounds. I could potentially increase the size and/or spacing, but I can't decrease either at all and still be able to keep the detail using the pens I have.
If the piece is 18" wide, my longest column of text is 27". That can't change much unless I widen the piece significantly (as in maybe making it 30-36" wide--some of the lines I can't break are close to 4" long!).
If I've done the math right, the total length of the border design is about 310". That seems to be too long for three rounds in any case, but in no case that I've tried to crunch numbers for is it long enough to go all the way around a fourth time. In fact, it isn't even enough to go all the way up the left side a fourth time.
And I am giving myself a headache trying to get everything to come out even!

Comments

[dreamflower]

Forgive typos, I am using thDh s tablet andI am not used to this keybaord.

You are overthinking the math. You need to do a riugh draft. You can fudge the spacing ofdesign repeats and also of text. Also for margins to look the same the botttom margin actually needs to be wider than the top margin. Sinec I amnot home I do not have access tothe article that explains the exact proportions but basically it is a matter of perspective. If you are looking down on the mss on a flat surface the top margin will appear wider even if it is the exact same width.

For text in three columns I would reccommmend that you leave at least a quarter inch in between.

[ramblin_rosie]

This is after the rough draft, alas, and with a half inch between columns as well as between the inside edge of the border and the outside edge of the text. I was aiming for 18x36, but that's not going to work. And the border design doesn't actually repeat (it's runes).
Interesting about the margins, though! Do you happen to remember if that also holds true for pieces that go on a wall?

[dreamflower]

I think so, but I can not be sure right now. But it has to do with the way the eye views it.

[dreamflower]

Rats. I hit send too soon.

Anyhow, you can SLIGHTLY alter thesize of the nib in some lines to make the text a little bit smaller or larger. You can also SLIGHTLY increase or decrease your spaces between letters and words. And there is always the use of decrative line finishes.

I will be back home this week end, and can prbably help you more when I have access to my books.

I wish I knew how to use the apostrophes on this darn keyboard.

[ramblin_rosie]

Okay, thanks. I hadn't considered tweaking the space between lines, but space-and-a-half might work with the uncial hand I'm using... still, maybe the thing to do is to set this one aside for tonight and talk it over with you more when you're home.