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                <h1>
                    Kerning and tracking
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                <br clear="both" /><div id="minitoc"><div class="t"><div class="b"><div class="l"><div class="r"><div class="bl"><div class="br"><div class="tl"><div class="tr"><div><h3>Contents [<a href="#" onclick="return toggleMiniToc('minitoc-links', this);" class="hideLink">Hide</a>]</h3><ul id="minitoc-links"><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e0aa"><h3 class="topictitle3">About kerning and tracking</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSC49581F5-4315-433c-B31F-02E55EE9B251a"><h3 class="topictitle3">Apply kerning to text</h3>
</a></p><ul><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e08a"><h4 class="topictitle4">Use metrics kerning</h4>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e07a"><h4 class="topictitle4">Use optical kerning</h4>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e06a"><h4 class="topictitle4">Adjust kerning manually</h4>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e05a"><h4 class="topictitle4">Change the default kerning increment value</h4>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e04a"><h4 class="topictitle4">Turn off kerning for selected text</h4>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSFD3166B3-C708-4fd3-B648-109575DD3FCEa"><h4 class="topictitle4">Adjust tracking</h4>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e03a"><h4 class="topictitle4">Highlight text containing custom kerning and tracking</h4>
</a></p></li></ul></li><li><p><a href="#WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e02a"><h3 class="topictitle3">Adjust kerning between words</h3>
</a></p></li></ul></div></div><br clear="both" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br clear="both" /><div><ul class="navlinklist"></ul>
</div>
<div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e0aa" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e0aa"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">About kerning and tracking</h2><div><p><dfn class="term">Kerning</dfn> is
the process of adding or subtracting space between specific pairs
of characters. <dfn class="term">Tracking</dfn> is the process of loosening
or tightening a block of text. </p>
<div class="section"><h4 class="sectiontitle">Types of kerning</h4><p>You can automatically
kern type using metrics kerning or optical kerning. <dfn class="term">Metrics kerning</dfn> uses
kern pairs, which are included with most fonts. Kern pairs contain information
about the spacing of specific pairs of letters. Some of these are:
LA, P., To, Tr, Ta, Tu, Te, Ty, Wa, WA, We, Wo, Ya, and Yo. </p>
<p>InDesign uses metrics kerning by default
so that specific pairs are automatically kerned when you import
or type text. To disable metrics kerning, select&#160;"0".</p>
<p>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 <dfn class="term">optical kerning</dfn> option.</p>
<div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="op_06" src="images/op_06.png" /><div class="figdesc">Before applying the optical kerning option to the “W” and
“a” pair (top), and after (bottom)</div><br /></div><p>You can also
use <dfn class="term">manual kerning,</dfn> which is ideal for adjusting the
space between two letters. Tracking and manual kerning are cumulative,
so you can first adjust individual pairs of letters, and then tighten
or loosen a block of text without affecting the relative kerning
of the letter pairs.</p>
<p>Word kerning isn’t the same as the Word
Spacing option in the Justification dialog box; word kerning changes
the kerning value only between a specific word’s first character
and the word space preceding that character. </p>
<div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="op_07" src="images/op_07.png" /><div class="figdesc">Kerning and tracking </div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Original</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Kerning
applied between “W” and “a”</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Tracking
applied</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></div>
<div class="section"><h4 class="sectiontitle">How kerning and tracking are measured</h4><p>You
can apply kerning, tracking, or both to selected text. Tracking
and kerning are both measured in 1/1000 em, a unit of measure that
is relative to the current type size. In a 6‑point font, 1&#160;em
equals 6 points; in a 10‑point font, 1&#160;em equals 10 points.
Kerning and tracking are strictly proportional to the current type
size.</p>
<p>Tracking and manual kerning are cumulative, so you can
first adjust individual pairs of letters, and then tighten or loosen
a block of text without affecting the relative kerning of the letter
pairs.</p>
<p>When you click to place the insertion point between
two letters, InDesign displays kerning
values in the Character panel and the Control panel. Metrics and
optical kerning values (or defined kern pairs) appear in parentheses.
Similarly, if you select a word or a range of text, InDesign displays the tracking values
in the Character panel and Control panel.</p>
</div>
</div></div>
<div id="WSC49581F5-4315-433c-B31F-02E55EE9B251a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSC49581F5-4315-433c-B31F-02E55EE9B251a"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Apply kerning to text</h2><div><div class="section"><p>You
apply either of two types of automatic kerning: metrics kerning
or optical kerning, or you can adjust the spacing between letters
manually.</p>
</div>
</div><div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e08a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e08a"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Use metrics kerning</h3><div><ol><li><span>Set the text insertion point between
the characters you want to pair kern, or select text. </span></li>
<li><span>In the Character panel or Control panel, select Metrics in
the Kerning&#160;<img src="images/P_TextKerning_Md_N.png" /> menu.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="section"><p>To avoid using the built-in kerning information
of a font for selected text, choose “0” in the Kerning &#160;<img src="images/P_TextKerning_Md_N.png" /> menu. </p>
</div>
</div></div><div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e07a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e07a"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Use optical kerning</h3><div><ol><li><span>Set the text insertion point between
characters you want to pair kern or select the text you want to
kern.</span></li>
<li><span>In the Character panel or Control panel, select Optical
in the Kerning&#160;<img src="images/P_TextKerning_Md_N.png" /> menu. </span></li>
</ol>
</div></div><div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e06a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e06a"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Adjust kerning manually</h3><div><ol><li class="stepexpand"><span>Using the Type tool&#160;<img src="images/P_TypeHoriz_Lg_N.png" />, click
to place an insertion point between two characters.</span> <div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:  </span>If a range
of text is selected, you can’t manually kern the text (you can choose
only Metrics, Optical, or&#160;0). Instead, use tracking.</div>
</li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Do any of the following:</span><ul><li><p>In the Character panel or the Control panel,
type or select a numeric value in the Kerning menu. </p>
</li>
<li><p>Press Alt+Left/Right Arrow (Windows) or Option+Left/Right
Arrow (Mac&#160;OS) to decrease or increase the kerning between
two characters. </p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="section"><p>The amount of the word kerning adjustment is the same
as the Kerning value in the Units &amp; Increments Preferences dialog
box. When you press the shortcut and hold down the Ctrl or Command
key, the kerning amount is the Kerning preferences value multiplied
by&#160;5.</p>
</div>
</div></div><div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e05a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e05a"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Change the default kerning increment value</h3><div><div class="p"><span><img src="images/dingbat.png" />&#160;In the Units &amp; Increments section of the
Preferences&#160;dialog box, type a new value for the Kerning
option and click&#160;OK.</span></div>
</div></div><div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e04a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e04a"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Turn off kerning for selected text</h3><div><ol><li><span>Select
text.</span></li>
<li><span>In the Character panel or Control panel, type or choose
0 in the Kerning menu.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="section"><p>You can also press Alt+Ctrl+Q (Windows) or Option+Command+Q
(Mac&#160;OS) to reset kerning and tracking. When you do so,
kerning is set to Metrics regardless of which kerning option was
previously applied.</p>
</div>
</div></div><div id="WSFD3166B3-C708-4fd3-B648-109575DD3FCEa" class="nochunk"><a name="WSFD3166B3-C708-4fd3-B648-109575DD3FCEa"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Adjust tracking</h3><div><ol><li><span>Select a range of characters.</span></li>
<li><span>In the Character panel or Control panel, type or select
a numeric value for Tracking&#160;<img src="images/P_TextTracking_Md_N.png" />.</span></li>
</ol>
</div></div><div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e03a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e03a"></a><h3 class="topictitle3">Highlight text containing custom kerning and tracking</h3><div><div class="section"><p>In
some instances, you’ll want to be aware of text that has custom
tracking and kerning applied. If you select the Custom Tracking/Kerning
preferences option, green highlighting appears over text with custom
tracking or kerning.</p>
</div>
<ol><li><span>Choose Edit&#160;&gt; Preferences&#160;&gt;
Composition (Windows) or InDesign&#160;&gt; Preferences&#160;&gt;
Composition (Mac&#160;OS).</span></li>
<li><span>Select Custom Tracking/Kerning, and then click&#160;OK.</span></li>
</ol>
</div></div></div>
<div id="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e02a" class="nochunk"><a name="WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6e02a"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Adjust kerning between words</h2><div><div class="p"><span><img src="images/dingbat.png" />&#160;With
the Type tool&#160;<img src="images/P_TypeHoriz_Lg_N.png" />, select
a range of text and do one of the following:</span><ul><li><p>To add space between selected words, press
Alt+Ctrl+\ (Windows) or Option+Command+\ (Mac&#160;OS).</p>
</li>
<li><p>To remove space between selected words, press Alt+Ctrl+Backspace (Windows)
or Option+Command+Delete (Mac&#160;OS).</p>
</li>
<li><p>To multiply the kerning adjustment by 5, hold down
Shift as you press the keyboard shortcut.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div></div>

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