Kerning and Tracking (Letter-spacing)

GN4 uses metrics pair-based kerning. Metrics kerning uses kern pairs, which are typically included with 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.

GN4 uses metrics kerning by default so that specific pairs are automatically kerned when you import or type text. You cannot disable the metrics kerning, but you can either manually change the space between two characters in a given word, or you can modify the default distance in a kerning pair in the given font.

Currently, GN4 does not support other kerning methods, such as optical, but metrics kerning is more than sufficient if you use well crafted fonts.

You can adjust kerning manually, either between characters, or between words.

You can adjust tracking manually, for the selected text.

You can apply kerning between characters, and tracking to the selected text. Tracking and kerning are both measured in absolute values, e.g. in points (in some other software are measured in 1/1000 em, a unit of measure that is relative to the current type size. In a 6point font, 1 em equals 6 points; in a 10point font, 1 em equals 10 points. That makes them proportional to the current type size; in GN4 this can be achieved by using variable styles).

Tracking of selection and manual kerning between character pairs 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. This requires you to use the >l...< tag to kern character pairs, and to use the >kern..< tag to track selection.

When you click to place the insertion point, GN4 displays manual tracking values in the Text palette. Currently you can read the manual kerning value just if you reveal tags and look for the >l..< tag. It is not possible to read the kerning pair value except by going in the EdAdmin4, and look to the value.