Content Comparison

• Refining the spacing for capital letters may be the most common use for this manual spacing routine. Names, after all, are a frequent part of the captions picture framers will do. The combinations of adjacent elements that caused spacing issues with lower case letters also cause spacing issues for some of the capital letters in the Thorndike OL font.

• These 2 names demonstrate the same spacing problems with capital letters that were in the lower case letters of the previous example.

• The extended strokes of the T create a wide space when the next letter is short. The angled strokes of letters like the V, W, and Y leave wide spaces when the next letter is small and round.

• The version of each name on the left shows how the program spaces the letters using the Kerning setting.

• The version on the right shows the capital letter as a separate LetterMat item and moved closer to the lower case letters.

• The parts of the name are aligned using the Align Objects to Bottom button, just as in the previous example.

• While the capital letter is separated from the lower case letters, why not make the caption more distinctive and artistic by changing the size and placement? These 4 names all have separate capital letters – and each has a spacing variation.

Jasmine

• There is nothing wrong with this name as it is, but it is a good example for this typographic change.

• Keep Aspect Ratio is checked for the J so that its height can be exaggerated.

• The J is 0.59 inch wide and 0.63 inch high.

• The top of the J is slightly higher than the dot of the i in the lower case letters.

• The name appears normal, except that the curved bottom stroke of the J descends much farther.

Irene

• Letters with vertical right sides seldom cause spacing problems, but they can be good examples to demonstrate positioning options.

• Keep Aspect Ratio for the I is unchecked so that it can be wider and more prominent.

• It is 0.65 inch wide and 0.62 inch high.

• Its bottom is positioned somewhat lower than the baseline of the lower case letters.

Rosiland

• Keep Aspect Ratio for the R is checked. It is 0.56 inch high.

• The lower case letters are lined up with the R so that the o nestles into the angled strokes at the right of the R.

Foster

• Keep Aspect Ratio for the F is unchecked so that it can be disproportionately taller.

• It is 0.52 inch wide and 0.62 inch high.

• The lower case letters are lined up with the F so that the name appears normal, but the vertical stroke of the F descends much farther than normal.