QALAM ATELIER

Using the studio

Short guides you can follow alongside the editor. Tick a guide when you've tried it.

  1. 1. Your first design

    Type Arabic, pick a font, download.

    1. Open Create and choose Text artwork.
    2. In Write → Text, type or paste your words. Vowel marks are kept exactly as typed.
    3. In Style, pick a font. Experimental fonts are marked as such.
    4. Drag the text on the canvas; turn on the grid in Arrange to centre it.
    5. Open Export and download SVG or PNG. Your project is also saved on this device.
    Try it

  2. 2. Variants, stretching and marks

    Fine-tune how the letters look without changing your text.

    1. Select your text, then open Style → Appearance.
    2. Letter variants appear only if the font really contains them; Default turns them off.
    3. The stretch (kashida) slider lengthens joins; it is a simple rule, not a calligrapher's placement.
    4. Turn off 'Show vowel marks' to hide them in the design only — your text keeps them.
    5. Tap one word to give it its own font, colour or size.
    Try it

  3. 3. Square Kufic on a grid

    Build geometric lettering cell by cell.

    1. Open Create and choose Square Kufic.
    2. Type a short word to get starting layouts, or draw strokes on the grid yourself.
    3. Edit the grid: draw, erase, move rows. Invalid changes are refused, never half-applied.
    4. Square Kufic layouts are geometric constructions, not traditional calligraphy.
    Try it

  4. 4. Start from a phrase

    Divine Names, greetings and occasion phrases with sources.

    1. Open Phrases and search in Arabic, transliteration or English.
    2. Check the source shown under each phrase.
    3. Press 'Design with it' — the text goes in exactly as shown.
    Try it

  5. 5. Adapt a ready board

    Start from an editable layout and make it yours.

    1. Open Ready Boards and filter by category.
    2. Change the theme, frame or orientation in the preview.
    3. Press 'Use this design' — everything stays editable.
    Try it