Summary: This article is for you if you are considering what platform to choose for your new eCommerce business or how to upgrade an existing one. Here we’ll discuss the differences between Sylius and Magento, two of the most popular eCommerce platforms, so you can make an informed decision.
Kerning is essential for headlines, typographic logos, signage, and other designs that require high levels of legibility. It is particularly important in designs where text is the primary visual element, such as posters or advertisements. And when done well, kerning can help create beautiful, polished designs.
Types of kerning & kerning tools
There are several types of kerning that designers can use. Plus, there are several powerful tools that are built into software that can help any designer tinker around with typefaces.
Manual kerning
Experienced designers who have honed their kerning skills for years may use manual kerning, which involves adjusting the spacing between individual letters manually. This type of kerning is often used for headlines, logos, and other designs where precise control over the spacing is necessary.
Manual kerning can be a time-consuming process, but it can also help designers achieve a more precise and polished look. To manually kern your text, select the text tool in your design software, click between two letters, and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to adjust the spacing as necessary.
Optical Kerning
Optical kerning is a type of kerning that adjusts the spacing between letters automatically based on their visual appearance. This type of kerning is based on the perceived space and shape of the letters rather than their actual size. This technique can be especially useful when working with a large block of text as it saves you from manually adjusting spacing between individual letters.
To use optical kerning, select the text tool in your design software, highlight the text you want to adjust, and select the optical kerning option from the typography or character settings.
Metric kerning
Metric kerning is a type of kerning that uses predefined spacing values based on font metrics. This type of kerning is usually the default in design software and is often used for body text. If you’re not sure how to start kerning, this would be your go-to type to study the “rules.”
Contextual kerning
Contextual kerning is a type of kerning that adjusts the spacing between letters based on their context within a word. This type of kerning is particularly useful for ligatures and other special character combinations. For those who aren’t aware, ligatures are when two or more characters are combined into a single glyph or symbol. This is often done for aesthetic or legibility purposes, as it can improve the spacing and appearance of the text. It helps the words flow smoothly.
In Thinking with Type, Ellen Lupton provides numerous examples of kerning, including the word "LOVE LETTERS." In this example, the kerning between the VE is adjusted so that the diagonal stroke of the V isn't so noticeable, creating a more even visual rhythm.
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