Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 11/13/2008

Question
When I use my text tool (any font) the cursor is huge and the text only appears at the top of the cursor. Sometimes the text will be off my canvas so I can't see what I'm typing until I'm done and move it back down, and I can't do text on a path because the text is about 1 1/2 inches away from where I want it to be. I read about others having the same problem and I've tried all the suggestions, changing leading, changing text, restarting my computer....nothing has worked. Any other suggestions?

Answer
Hi Colleen,

Normally, this is a common issue and it has to do with the font you have selected. Certain fonts have a larger than normal ligatures in the font family. If you have changed your font and you still have the issue try this:

Create a new document. Then select your type tool, before you click anywhere in the screen, change your font to myriad (a default font for AI) and make it 12 pt size. Then open the character palette and turn on the options (using the options pulldown menu in the top right corner). Then make sure these are your settings:

Leading: auto (14.4pt), Kerning/Tracking: auto/0

Horiz/Vert Scale: 100%, Baseline shift: 0* this is probably were the error is...

Next, go back into the options pulldown and make sure that "superscript" is not checked.

Then click into your document and try typing and see where you end up. Just do a normal line of text, not on a path or anything.

Hopefully that took care of the issue. If not, let me know and i can do some more research.

Thanks

Kevin