Introduction
Keming vs Kerning The Art of Letter Spacing
In the world of typography, the space between letters can make or break the readability and aesthetics of your design. Whether you’re a designer, writer, or just someone who appreciates well-crafted text, understanding keming and kerning is essential. In this blog post, we’ll explore the fascinating world of letter spacing, uncover the mysteries behind keming, and delve into the art of kerning.
Typography is more than just selecting fonts; it’s about the delicate dance between letters. Two essential aspects of this dance are keming and kerning. In this blog post, we’ll explore the nuances of these invisible yet impactful elements.
What Is Kerning in Typography?
Kerning is the process of adjusting the space between individual characters in a font to improve readability and visual appeal. It focuses on the space between character pairs and is often used to rectify visual inconsistencies. Imagine a well-dressed couple on the dance floor—their steps perfectly synchronized. That’s kerning!
Examples of Kerning:
- AVENUE: Without proper kerning, the ‘A’ and ‘V’ might appear too far apart compared to the other letters. Kerning helps fix this, making the word visually balanced.
- f and question mark: In some fonts, an italic f can collide with a following question or quote mark. Kerning opens up the spacing to avoid collisions.
What Does Letter Spacing Mean in Typography?
Letter spacing (also known as tracking) refers to the uniform adjustment of space between all characters within a block of text. Unlike kerning, which focuses on specific pairs, letter spacing impacts the overall spacing and is applied evenly to all characters. It’s like ensuring everyone on the dance floor maintains a consistent distance.
Examples of Letter Spacing:
- Headlines: Very large type, such as big headlines, benefits from tighter tracking. It adds impact and readability.
- Tiny Type: Captions or footnotes benefit from slightly opened letter spacing, especially on absorbent paper.
Keming: When Kerning Goes Wrong
Keming is a playful term for bad kerning. It happens when two adjacent letters combine visually to form a third unintended character. Imagine a dance floor mishap where two dancers accidentally step on each other’s toes. Here are some keming fails:
- BURN: Without proper kerning, it looks like BUM.
- THERAPIST: The space between the rapist can be awkward.
How to Avoid Keming Disasters:
- Leading and Tracking: Before kerning, adjust leading (vertical spacing between lines) and tracking (overall letter spacing). Balance matters!
- Test Control Pairings: Check how individual letters interact in your chosen font.
- Use Trusted Fonts: Some free or poorly designed fonts play tricks. Stick to reliable ones.
- For Print: Convert fonts to curves before sending print files.
- For Web: Use CSS for automatic kerning or libraries like lettering.js.
- Proofread: Read the whole text and share it for proofreading.
Remember, good typography is like a well-choreographed dance—every step matters!