Chapter 7

Letterspacing, Tracking, and Kerning

More than just letters, typography is also the space between those letters. Each letterform and each word inhabit a background of negative space that gives form to the type. This space helps establish the rhythm of the text. Tight- or loose-fit type may be in or out of fashion, just as jeans may be skintight one season and flared the next. But whatever the trend, for the type to be readable, the rhythm should be steady, the spacing consistent.

InDesign offers three distinct but related approaches to adjusting the space between words and letters. Going from global to local, let’s start by defining our terms:

  • Letterspacing is the overall adjustment of space between letters and between words.

  • Tracking ...

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