Apply kerning to text
You apply either of two types of automatic kerning: metrics kerning or optical kerning, or you can adjust the spacing between letters manually.
Use metrics kerning
- Set the text insertion point between the characters you want to pair kern, or select text.
- In the Character panel or Control panel, select Metrics in
the Kerning
menu.
To avoid using the built-in kerning information
of a font for selected text, choose “0” in the Kerning menu.
Use optical kerning
- Set the text insertion point between characters you want to pair kern or select the text you want to kern.
- In the Character panel or Control panel, select Optical
in the Kerning menu.
Adjust kerning manually
- Using the Type tool
, click
to place an insertion point between two characters.
Note: If a range of text is selected, you can’t manually kern the text (you can choose only Metrics, Optical, or 0). Instead, use tracking.
The amount of the word kerning adjustment is the same as the Kerning value in the Units & Increments Preferences dialog box. When you press the shortcut and hold down the Ctrl or Command key, the kerning amount is the Kerning preferences value multiplied by 5.
Change the default kerning increment value
In the Units & Increments section
of the Preferences dialog box, type a new value for the
Kerning option and click OK.