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Specifying kerning and tracking


    Kerning controls the spacing between two characters. You can control kerning manually, or you can turn on the kerning built into a font by the font designer. (See Spacing characters with auto-kerning.) Tracking inserts uniform spacing between more than two characters in selected type. Use tracking to adjust the spacing of a word or an entire block of type.

    Positive kerning or tracking values move characters apart; negative kerning or tracking values move characters closer together. Kerning and tracking values are measured in units that are 1/1000 of an em space. The width of an em space is relative to the current type size. In a 1-point font, 1 em corresponds to 1 point; in a 10-point font, 1 em corresponds to 10 points. Because kerning units are 1/1000 em, 100 kerning units in a 10-point font are equivalent to 1 point.

    Examples of kerning values and tracking values (
    Examples of kerning values and tracking values ("The Emperor's").

To change the kerning or tracking value using the Character palette:

  1. Set an insertion point between two characters for kerning or select type for tracking using the type tools.
  2. In the Character palette, do one of the following:
    • Click the Kerning button  the Kerning button and enter a value in the Kerning text box.
    • Click the Tracking button  the Tracking button and enter a value in the Tracking text box.
  3. Press Enter, Return, or Tab.

To view the kerning value between two characters:

  1. Set an insertion point between two characters whose kerning value you want to view, using the type tools.
  2. Choose Window > Info.
  3. The Info palette displays the total spacing value for the two characters. For example, if the Info palette displays 109 = 100 + 9/1000 em, the characters have 9/1000 em kerning and the word has 100/1000 em tracking.