Kerning & Tracking Alignment & Leading some specific kerning pairs metric kerning - specific kerning pairs come with the typeface optical kerning - InDesign program adjust spacing based on shapes of letter combinations LA P To Tr Ta Tu Te Ty Wa WA We Wo Ya Yo kerning - space between letters

letterspaced (no kerning) WAVADOPATTIMMILTL

kerned ( metrics) WAVADOPATTIMMILTL

kerned (optical) WAVADOPATTIMMILTL kerning Watermark Overture Typography kerning the goal of kerning create a consistent rythm of space between character to increase readability adjust spaces between letters to MAKE them appear even (optically) ll lo po lv yv ev two straights straight to round two rounds open sides and widest space next widest narrowest diagonal sides space curves away at top and bottom

ll lo po lv yvopen sidedev letters kerning one good way to figure out how to adjust is to look at the word and select the most problematic area to begin Typography another good way kerning to work is to use the 3 letter rule, working with 3 letters at a time and then adding letters on each side Typ pog raph kerning BACON

Start with the first three letters of a word, and block the rest of the let- ters with your hand or a piece of paper. BAC ➤ ➤

Once you’ve adjusted the spacing between the first three letters, shift your gaze over by one letter ACO ➤

until you’ve reached the ➤ end of the word. CON ➤ ➤ BACON kerning

Doing this helps you see your type as a group of equally spaced shapes

without being distracted

by the meaning of the

words

DOWN UPSIDE UPSIDE DOWN Kerning & Tracking

kerning off (0) / tracking 0 Typography kerning / optical / tracking 0 Typography kerning / metric / tracking 0 Typography Kerning & Tracking

kerning off (0) / tracking 0 Typography kerning / optical / tracking 25 Typography kerning / metric / tracking -25 Typography Tracking- overall letter spacing

kerning off (0) kerning off (0) kerning off (0) tracking 0 tracking -25 tracking +25

Metrics kerning uses kern pairs, which are included with most fonts. Kern pairs contain information about the spacing of specific pairs of letters. InDesign uses metrics kerning by default so that specific pairs are automatically kerned when you import or type text. To disable metrics kerning, select “0”. Optical kerning adjusts the spacing between adjacent characters based on their shapes. Some fonts include robust kern-pair specifications. However, when a font includes only minimal built- in kerning or none at all, or if you use two different typefaces or sizes in one or more words on a line, you may want to use the optical kerning option. kerning - space between letters / tracking - overall letter spacing across blocks of TEXT

kerned (metrics) kerning off (0) optical kerning on

Metrics kerning uses kern pairs, Metrics kerning uses kern pairs, Metrics kerning uses kern pairs, which are included with most fonts. which are included with most fonts. which are included with most fonts. Kern pairs contain information about Kern pairs contain information about Kern pairs contain information about the spacing of specific pairs of letters. the spacing of specific pairs of letters. the spacing of specific pairs of letters.

InDesign uses metrics kerning by InDesign uses metrics kerning by InDesign uses metrics kerning by default so that specific pairs are default so that specific pairs are default so that specific pairs are automatically kerned when you automatically kerned when you automatically kerned when you import or type text. import or type text. import or type text.

To disable metrics kerning, select “0”. To disable metrics kerning, select To disable metrics kerning, select “0”. “0”. Optical kerning adjusts the spacing Optical kerning adjusts the spacing between adjacent characters based Optical kerning adjusts the spacing between adjacent characters based on their shapes. Some fonts include between adjacent characters based on their shapes. Some fonts include robust kern-pair specifications. on their shapes. Some fonts include robust kern-pair specifications. However, when a font includes only robust kern-pair specifications. However, when a font includes only minimal built-in kerning or none However, when a font includes only minimal built-in kerning or none at all, or if you use two different minimal built-in kerning or none at all, or if you use two different typefaces or sizes in one or more at all, or if you use two different typefaces or sizes in one or more words on a line, you may want to use typefaces or sizes in one or more words on a line, you may want to use the optical kerning option. words on a line, you may want to use the optical kerning option. the optical kerning option. Alignment

flush left /rag right or align left, rag right flush right /rag left or align right, rag left Decisions on the arrangement of running Decisions on the arrangement of running type involve the consideration of point type involve the consideration of point size, column width and alignment. It is the size, column width and alignment. It is the relationship of these three interdependent relationship of these three interdependent factors that ultimately determines the factors that ultimately determines the appearance of printed text. Type may be appearance of printed text. Type may be set flush or range left, centered, flush or set flush or range left, centered, flush or arranged right or justified. Random is arranged right or justified. Random is another form of alignment. Each form has another form of alignment. Each form has characteristic qualities. characteristic qualities. centered justified (align left and right)

Decisions on the arrangement of running Decisions on the arrangement of running type involve the consideration of point type involve the consideration of point size, column width and alignment. It is the size, column width and alignment. It is the relationship of these three interdependent relationship of these three interdependent factors that ultimately determines the factors that ultimately determines the appearance of printed text. Type may be appearance of printed text. Type may be set flush or range left, centered, flush or set flush or range left, centered, flush or arranged right or justified. Random is arranged right or justified. Random is another form of alignment. Each form has another form of alignment. Each form has characteristic qualities. characteristic qualities. Leading / Line Spacing auto is a percentage of the type size leading 18/24 The amount of of leading necessary The amount of of leading necessary for a readable and balanced column for a readable and balanced column to type will depend upon the line to type will depend upon the line lenght and x-height of the typeface. lenght and x-height of the typeface. Typefaces with long ascenders and Typefaces with long ascenders and decenders will, as a rule, require less decenders will, as a rule, require less additional leading than those with additional leading than those with greater x- height,. greater x- height. select your leading leading 18/30 (18/18 solid) The amount of of leading necessary The amount of of leading necessary for a readable and balanced column to type will depend upon the line for a readable and balanced column lenght and x-height of the typeface. to type will depend upon the line Typefaces with long ascenders and decenders will, as a rule, require less lenght and x-height of the typeface. additional leading than those with greater x- height. Typefaces with long ascenders and decenders will, as a rule, require less additional leading than those with greater x- height, 40/48 Serif Typeface 5 centered lines New grilled wooden key’s Kerning / METRICS Tracking off “To Be DAVID WALDEN UNITED STATES 10011” Van Gogh New York in Awe May 7, 1957. (511) 784-1710

New grilled wooden key’s 48/50 Sans Serif Typeface 5 centered lines Kerning on /OPTICAL “To Be DAVID WALDEN Tracking off UNITED STATES 10011” Van Gogh New York in Awe May 7, 1957. (511) 784-1710 Capitals & Tracking

caps and small capsgenerally need extra LETTER SPACING

CAPITALS NEED EXTRA LETTERSPACE CAPITALS NEED EXTRA LETTERSPACE

Capitals Need Extra Letterspace Capitals Need Extra Letterspace