What Is Leading In Text?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The vertical space between lines of type is called leading. Leading is measured from the baseline of one line of text to the baseline of the line above it.

What is leading and kerning?

Definition. – Kerning is the adjustment of spacing between the given pair of characters. It refers to the addition and subtraction of space between letters to achieve proportional spacing between characters. ... Leading is defined as the spacing between the descender line and the ascender line of consecutive lines of text .

What is leading and tracking in text?

Tracking is the overall spacing between groups of letters. Leading is the vertical spacing between lines of type .

What is type leading?

In typography, leading (/ˈlɛdɪŋ/ LED-ing) is the space between adjacent lines of type ; the exact definition varies. ... In hand typesetting, leading is the thin strips of lead (or aluminium) that were inserted between lines of type in the composing stick to increase the vertical distance between them.

How do you determine leading type?

Leading. Leading describes the amount of space between lines of text. You can measure leading by obtaining the distance between two baselines .

What does tracking do to text?

Tracking refers to uniformly increasing or decreasing the horizontal spacing between a range of characters . Most often used to adjust and fine-tune overall letterspacing, tracking can create more readable, pleasing color and texture.

What is kerning in text?

Kerning is the spacing between individual letters or characters . Unlike tracking, which adjusts the amount of space between the letters of an entire word in equal increments, kerning is focused on how type looks — creating readable text that’s visually pleasing.

What is bad kerning?

11 Photos Made Raunchy With Bad Kerning

KERNING: The process of adjusting the spacing between characters in a proportional font, usually to achieve a visually pleasing result. Bad kerning = Good laughs!

What is leading in DTP?

Pronounced LED-ing.

A typographical term that refers to the vertical space between lines of text . ... For example, 10-point text with 2 points of spacing between lines would mean a leading of 12 points. Many word processors and all desktop publishing systems allow you to specify the leading.

What is leading copy?

Leading is the spacing between the baselines of type . The term leading is derived from the practice of placing lead strips between lines type on older hand set printing presses such as a letterpress. ... Leading can also be used to change the aesthetics when dealing with a typographical design.

Why is it called leading?

The word ‘leading’ originates from the strips of lead hand-typesetters used to use to space out lines of text evenly. ... The word leading has stuck, but essentially it’s a typographer’s term for line spacing .

What is a leading value?

Leading is measured in points from one baseline to the next . The leading value includes the point size of the typeface and the actual space between the lines. Thus, 10-point type with 12 points of leading really means two points of space between each line.

How do you set leading?

To adjust leading, select your text box and choose a value from the drop-down menu in the character panel. To do it using your keyboard, select your text box, hold down the option or alt key and press the up/down arrow keys to increase or decrease the leading.

What is the space between text lines called?

The vertical space between lines of type is called leading (rhymes with sledding). Leading is measured from the baseline of one line of text to the baseline of the line above it. Baseline is the invisible line on which most letters sit.

What is the best paragraph spacing?

For most text, the optimal line spacing is between 120% and 145% of the point size . Most word processors, as well as CSS, let you define line spacing as a multiple. Or you can do the math—multiply your point size by the percentage. (The text in this paragraph has line spacing of 135%.

What is the correct line height?

Line height, or line spacing, is commonly measured as a percentage of font size. Conventional wisdom is that line spacing of 130%-150% is ideal for readability, but even up to 200% is acceptable. The perfect line height depends on the design and size of the font itself. There is no magic number that works for all text.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.