Expert: Amy - 4/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear Amy,

I'm now using the PC with Windows HP 2003. I have a problem with the "Set the kerning between two characters." Truely, when I want to set the kerning to be narrow, I need to insert the cursor between two characters I want to reduce the kernig one by one without changing "Set the tracking for the selected characters". I mean "Set the tracking for the selected characters" must be "0 size" So if there're a lot of kernings between characters, I really must do it one by one and I am sure it's very very slow and hard to do so and some mistakes will happen, I think. Anyway, can I have another method to do it all at one time?

Any help will be appropriated!

Yours sincerely,


WIN"

ANSWER: Hi Win,

You can only set KERNING for many characters at the same time to 0 or AUTO (or OPTICAL, if you have a newer version of Illustrator). You cannot set the kerning between many characters at the same time to a number measurement. For this, you must use TRACKING.

To adjust the TRACKING between many characters at the same time, select all the text and adjust the tracking number.

Hope this helped
Amy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Now I am using AI CS3. I was trying to set the kerning to (-150) and then the texts become too narrow and there are really no spaces as I was typing before I adjust the kerning. What can I do to adjust the kerning without effecting on the spaces between the characters? It seems a very complex question asked to you, I thought.

Before I rarely use AI CS3 because I know little about it. But now I am trying hard to use it since I have been able to ask questions to all the experienced experts relating to AI CS3 whenever I am in wonder.

I am very very sure it helps and gives me the most profits and share the best experiences to me.

Thanks so much for keeping in touch with me and I am waiting for your technique.


Yours sincerely,


WIN

Answer
Hi Win,

First you need to know what the difference between kerning and tracking is. I think you have it backwards.

Kerning is the process of adding or subtracting space between 1 pair of characters at a time.

Tracking is the process of setting the distance between letters for a whole block of text.

Select all your text.
Set the kerning to Auto or Optical. I recommend Auto for large blocks of text.
Then set the tracking to -50 or whatever tightness you need. This will not affect individual kerning.

-Amy