Using Type > Setting precise type specifications > Setting alignment, leading, range kerning, and baseline shift |
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Setting alignment, leading, range kerning, and baseline shift
Alignment determines the position of each line of type in a paragraph relative to the left and right edges of the text block. Type can be aligned to the left or right edge of the text block, centered within the text block, or aligned to both edges of the text block (full justification).
Leading is the distance between adjacent lines in a paragraph. By default, leading is equal to the current type size. You can set leading to 120% of the type size.
You can also specify custom leading values in three ways. With the Extra (+) option, you specify a value in points to be added to the current type size. For example, if the current type size is 24 and you enter 20, the leading will be 44; if you change the type size to 30, the leading will be 50. With the Fixed (=) option, you specify leading as an exact point size; the leading remains at the size entered even if you change the current type size. With the Percentage (%) option, you specify leading as a percentage of the current type size; the leading value changes if you change the current type size.
Kerning controls the space between two characters, relative to the width of an em space (the width of an "m" in the current font). A positive kerning value increases the space between characters; a negative value decreases the space. Range kerning controls the space between all characters in a selection.
You can also control the spacing between words or characters numerically. For more information, see Spacing characters and words precisely.
Baseline shift controls where type appears in relation to its baseline.
To specify alignment, do one of the following:
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Choose Text > Align and choose an alignment option from the submenu. |
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In the Text toolbar or Text Character inspector, click an alignment button. |
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In Windows, right-click a text block, choose Align, and choose an option from the menu. |
To set leading to be equal to the current type size:
Choose Text > Leading > Solid.
To set leading as 120% of the current type size:
Choose Text > Leading > Auto.
To specify leading as a point value to be added to the current type size:
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Do one of the following: |
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Choose Text > Leading > Other to display the Leading dialog box, and choose Extra from the pop-up menu. |
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In the Text toolbar or Text Character inspector, choose + from the Leading pop-up menu.
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In the Leading text box, enter a value in points for the amount of leading you want to add to the current type size, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh). To specify leading equal to the current point size, enter 0. |
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To specify leading as a fixed point value:
1 |
Do one of the following: |
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Choose Text > Leading > Other to display the Leading dialog box, and choose Fixed from the pop-up menu. |
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In the Text toolbar or Text Character inspector, choose = from the Leading pop-up menu. |
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In the Leading text box, enter a value in points to set leading to the exact size specified and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh). |
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To specify leading as a percentage of the current point size:
1 |
Do one of the following: |
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Choose Text > Leading > Other to display the Leading dialog box, and choose Percentage from the pop-up menu. |
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In the Text toolbar or Text Character inspector, choose % from the Leading pop-up menu. |
2 |
In the Leading text box, enter a leading value as a percentage of the current point size, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh). To specify leading equal to the current point size, enter 100. |
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To specify kerning or range kerning:
1 |
Do one of the following: |
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To specify kerning, click in a text block with the Text tool to set the insertion point between two characters. |
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To specify range kerning, select the text to which you want to apply kerning. |
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Do one of the following: |
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In the Text Character inspector, enter a value in the Kerning or Range Kerning text box to adjust spacing by a percentage of an em space, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).
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In Windows, hold down Control+Alt and press the Right Arrow or Left Arrow key to increase or decrease kerning by 1 em. Press Shift to increase or decrease kerning by 10 percent of an em space. |
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To specify baseline shift, do one of the following:
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In the Text Character inspector, enter a value in the Baseline Shift text box, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).
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Hold down Control+Alt (Windows) or Control+Option (Macintosh) and press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to raise or lower the baseline. |
Note: To create footnotes and superscript special characters such as © and , select baseline-shifted text and reduce the font size. |
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