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Adobe InDesign/InDesign CS4 text alignment

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Expert: - 1/20/2011


Question

initial cap
I'm working on a book that contains a list of 14,000 names in alpha order in narrow columns. Each new alpha entry has a large initial cap that I want to optically align to the left margin. The typeface is very geometric (United Sans Stencil) so the default spacing to the left of this letter makes it look like it is not in alignment, ie. flush left. I'm familiar w/ the Optical Margin Alignment options but that is not solving my problem. I want the initial cap embedded as part of the text flow, otherwise I would just make it a separate text box and shift it left. I have attached a screen capture to illustrate my point. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer
Hi Bradley,

Not all fonts start all characters right on the text box line though usually it is small enough that it is not noticeable. Go to Object>Text Frame Options to make sure the inset on the left is set to zero (the default).

I'm afraid the only choice you have, if setting the Optical Margin Alignment to the larger type size isn't working, is to format a small left indent on all the columns of text and manually remove or adjust the indent on the large capital letters until you achieve the desired affect. You can incorporate this into a character style but you may need to adjust depending on the individual characters in the font. The foot of the A or the curve of C may start ahead of the straight edged letters.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more InDesign tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/indesign.htm

Glen Demers

Expertise

I am a Prepress Technician for Best Printing Online and can answer any question about preparing your InDesign document for print.

Experience

20 years working in prepress
Prepress technician for Best Printing Online
Education/Credentials
Some college training in printing and have attended numerous seminars

Education/Credentials
Some college training in printing and have attended numerous seminars

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