Typography Fundamentals: Spacing Letters and Words
Proper letter and word spacing is crucial for optimal legibility and aesthetic appeal in typography. Kerning and tracking are two methods for adjusting space between letters and words. Though similar, they serve different purposes. Understanding the distinction enables better typographic control.
Kerning: Fine-Tuning Space Between Letter Pairs
Kerning refers to adjusting space between individual letter pairs that appear too close or too far apart. Certain letter combinations like AV or Yo may have awkward default spacing. Kerning modifies the gaps between specific letter pairs for improved readability and visual balance.
Kerning is a micro-level process for targeted refinements. Designers manually and selectively alter space between problematic letter pairs as needed. Quality kerning makes the text look natural and cohesive.
Tracking: Controlling Overall Letter Spacing
Tracking involves adjusting the global spacing of all letters in a text block. Increasing tracking spreads letters further apart, while decreasing tracking brings them closer together.
Tracking allows macro-level control over letter spacing. Tighter tracking can improve readability for small text. More generous tracking helps balance large display text. Tracking creates visual alignment between text blocks, and tunes spacing for stylistic purposes.
When to Kern vs. Track
The core difference is kerning targets specific letters while tracking adjusts entire blocks uniformly. Kerning is a nuanced editorial process. Tracking is a layout tool for high-level spacing control.
For body text, only kerning is necessary to fix spacing quirks between letters. For large headings and stylized typography, tracking complements kerning for further adjustments. Both produce quality typographic color and space.
Understanding Their Typographic Roles
Kerning and tracking serve distinct purposes in typography:
Kerning for Readability and Harmony
Careful kerning is necessary for readable, harmonious typography. It removes jarring gaps, collisions, or awkward letter pairs. Smooth, even spacing between letters enhances readability and makes text visually appealing.
Tracking for Layout and Style
Tracking complements kerning. It provides flexibility to uniformly condense or loosen letter spacing for layout purposes, optical alignment, and stylistic expression. Tighter tracking can sharpen text color. Looser tracking improves balance for large text.
Using Tracking and Kerning Together
Quality typography employs both kerning and tracking together. Kerning addresses spacing inconsistencies between letters. Tracking then fine-tunes overall letter spacing for the text block. Combining manual kerning with tracking control produces optimal typographic color and space.
In summary, kerning and tracking offer typographers both micro and macro options for calibrating letter spacing. Their joint application ensures text is even, natural, and harmonious. Understanding their distinct roles enhances typographic finesse and control.