Hat Kalemi is a drawing puzzle born from the slanted reed pen of Turkish calligraphy. The angle of the pen nib never changes, so the same pen leaves a thick stroke in one direction and a thin one in another. To get the right thickness, you turn the paper, not the pen.
On this page you will find the rules, how the score is calculated, the stars, the ink and tips for when you get stuck. The panels are not text to read: they are lines, curves and figures such as a bird, a fish, a boat, a stork and a tulip.
How to play Hat Kalemi
- Look at the faint target panel on the paper: each line has a set position and thickness.
- If a line must be thick and the pen draws thin in that direction, turn the paper with the rotate buttons.
- Draw by tracing over the target line with your finger or mouse.
- When all lines are done, press Finish.
- The game measures shape and thickness and shows your score and stars.
In the first two panels the pen nib walks over the target by itself to show you how to draw.
Controls
| Button | Keyboard | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Rotate left / right | Q or Left arrow, E or Right arrow | Turns the paper by 15 degrees |
| Ink | W or Space | Refills the pen with ink (from panel 6 on) |
| Undo | Z | Removes the last line; 3 per panel |
| Restart | Resets the panel and your undos | |
| Hint | Marks each target line with a red trace showing where the nib must sit |
The red slanted bar on screen is the pen nib and follows your finger. The current paper angle is shown at the bottom (for example Paper 30°).
Thick line, thin line
The pen nib always keeps the same slant on screen. A stroke is thickest when it runs across the nib and thinnest when it runs along it. With the paper straight, a horizontal line comes out thick and a vertical line thin.
If the paper needs a thick vertical line, turn the paper 90 degrees: you draw horizontally on screen and a thick vertical line stays on the paper. Turning the paper 180 degrees gives the same result; 90° and -90° count as the same. For slanted lines, find the right angle by turning the paper until the red Hint trace lines up with the pen nib.
Score and stars
The score is the shape score (how much of the target your lines cover and how little they spill over) multiplied by the thickness score (whether the line matches the target thickness at every point).
| Score | Result |
|---|---|
| 52% or more | 1 star, panel passed |
| 72% or more | 2 stars |
| 84% or more | 3 stars; you must not have turned the paper more than the target and no line may have the wrong thickness |
The Turns count is how many times the paper angle changes from one line to the next; turning the paper just to look does not count. On the result screen, red rings mark where the thickness was wrong and grey rings mark parts you never drew.
Ink and inkwell
From panel 6 (Wave) on, the pen uses ink. One fill lets you draw a path about one and a half times the edge of the paper. As the ink runs low the stroke fades; when it runs out the pen leaves no mark. Tap the Ink button to refill. The number of dips does not affect the score, but if the ink runs out in the middle of a stroke the line stops there. The ring in panel 7 cannot be closed with one fill: dip halfway and finish it in two strokes.
Chapters and panels
| Chapter | Panels |
|---|---|
| Lines | 1-5: Thick line, Thin line, Turn the paper, Slant, Lattice |
| Curves | 6-10: Wave, Ring, Dot measure, Cross, Curl and dot |
| Figures | 11-15: Bird, Fish, Boat, Stork, Tulip |
Passing a panel with at least 1 star opens the next one. A total of 45 stars can be earned. Every panel you pass is hung in the Gallery; a better score replaces the old one.
Tips for Hat Kalemi
- Before you start, group the lines by angle and draw the ones with the same angle one after another; you will turn the paper less.
- If you are unsure of the angle, turn on Hint and turn the paper until the red trace lines up with the pen nib.
- Draw slowly and in one stroke; short, broken strokes spill outside the target.
- Dip in the inkwell before starting a long curve.
- In the Dot measure panel, place the dots with short strokes the size of the nib.
- When the result shows red rings, try the angle the message suggests; fixing just that line often brings the third star.
Common mistakes
- Trying to turn the pen: the nib angle is fixed, only the paper angle changes the thickness.
- Turning the paper before every line: if you do not draw lines with the same angle one after another, the turn count goes over the target and the third star is lost.
- Spilling outside the target: fast, wide strokes lower the shape score.
- Leaving a line half drawn: parts with grey rings count as not drawn at all.
- Forgetting the ink: if the ink runs out in the middle of a long stroke, the line stops.
- Using up your undos too early: each panel has 3; if a panel is badly off, Restart also gives them back.
Frequently asked questions
Why did I score over 84% but not get 3 stars?
The third star needs two more things besides the score: you must not turn the paper more than the target, and no line may be left with the wrong thickness or half drawn. The result message tells you which one is missing.
Does turning the paper lower my score?
No, it only affects the third star. What counts is how many times the paper angle changes between lines drawn one after another. Turning the paper to look and turning it back does not count.
Is there a penalty for dipping in the inkwell often?
No. The number of dips is shown only for information; it does not affect the score or the stars.
Is there any text to read in the panels?
No. The panels are made of lines, curves and figures: a bird, a fish, a boat, a stork and a tulip. The Curl and dot panel is an abstract curve that only resembles a letter.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. You draw with your finger; the rotate, inkwell and other buttons are at the bottom of the screen. On a computer you can also use the mouse and keyboard shortcuts.
Where is my progress saved?
Your stars, scores and gallery are saved on your device. If you sign in with your account, your progress also moves to your account.
