Small Adjustments, Big Readability Difference

How today works: we'll look at one blank at a time. Study the example, make your best guess, then we'll reveal the answer together. Fill in your notes as we go, don't skip ahead!

This setting controls the space between one specific pair of letters, fix awkward gaps (like "AV" or "To") one pair at a time.

One pair at a time, the precision tool for awkward letter-pair gaps.

This setting controls the space evenly across a whole selection, great for headlines, but don't overdo it on body text.

The broad-strokes version of kerning, every letter pair in the selection, evenly.

This setting controls the vertical space between lines, baseline to baseline, too tight is hard to read, too loose feels disconnected.

Named for the strips of lead once inserted between lines of metal type.

Horiz./Vert. ______ stretches or squishes letterforms, avoid this, since it distorts the type designer's original shapes. Use a different weight instead.

Distorts the letterform itself, almost always the wrong tool. A different weight (Bold, Light) respects the design.

______ ______ moves characters up/down without resizing, used for superscript/subscript effects.

Vertical position only, no change to the letterform's size.