User Guide

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ADOBE INCOPY CS2
User Guide
Types of kerning
You can automatically kern type using metrics kerning or optical kerning. Metrics kerning 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. InCopy uses metrics kerning by default so that specific
pairs are automatically kerned when you import or type text.
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.
Before (top) and after (bottom) applying the optical kerning option to the “Wa” pair
Yo u c a n a l s o u s e manual kerning, which is ideal for adjusting the space between two letters. Tracking and kerning are
both measured in 1/1000 ems, a unit of measure that is relative to the current type size. For a 6-point font, 1 em equals
6 points; for a 10-point font, 1 em equals 10 points. Kerning and tracking are strictly proportional to the current type
size.
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.
How kerning and tracking are measured
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 em equals 6 points; in a 10-point font, 1
em equals 10 points. Kerning and tracking are strictly proportional to the current type size.
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.
A
C
B
Adjusting kerning between characters
A. Original B. Kerning applied between “W” and “a” C. Tracking applied
When you click the insertion point between two letters, InCopy displays kerning values in the Character palette.
Metrics andoptical kerningvalues(or definedkernpairs)appearinparentheses.Similarly,ifyou select awordora
range of text, InCopy displays the tracking values in the Character palette.