To Adjust Kerning - Adobe PHOTOSHOP CS2 User Manual

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. Photoshop uses metrics kerning by default so that
specific pairs are automatically kerned when you import or type text.
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. Optical kerning adjusts the spacing between adjacent characters based on their shapes.
You can also use manual kerning, 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.
Default kerning (top) and -40 manual kerning between A and C and between U and S (bottom)
Positive kerning or tracking values move characters apart (adding to the default spacing); negative values move
characters closer together (reducing the default spacing). 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 corre­
sponds to 1 point; in a 10-point font, 1 em corresponds to 10 points. Kerning and tracking units are 1/1000 em. So,
for example, 100 units in a 10-point font are equivalent to 1 point.
Default tracking (left), and tracking set to 350 (right

To adjust kerning

Do any of the following:
1
To use a font's built-in kerning information for selected characters, choose Metrics (Photoshop) or Auto
•
(ImageReady) from the Kerning menu
To automatically adjust the spacing between selected characters based on their shapes, choose Optical from the
•
Kerning menu in the Character palette.
• To adjust kerning manually, place an insertion point between two characters, and in the Character palette, enter a
numeric value in the Kerning text box, choose a numeric value from the Kerning pop-up menu, or position the
pointer over the Kerning icon and drag the scrubby slider
)
in the Character palette.
to the left or right.
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