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Continued from previous page...

Proper Initial Kerning in Quark Xpress

Designing Type Runarounds in Quark XPressI've use the Command/Click technique to add anchor points to the runaround block (dotted line)

Next I move the "urton" closer to the 'B' yet hold the other lines away form the letter block.

In Quark, I'll almost always give a "ZERO" offset in the Runarounds dialog to those sides where no runaround effect is desired.

This provides easy, quick recognition of the drop cap in terms of the word it begins.

You can't do this with regular runarounds.

Notice too, I've followed the traditional technique of capitalizing the opening phrase of the paragraph.

Using Typeset Letters for Initial Caps

In example #2, (right) you see I've used a single letter, keyed into a Quark text block.

That darn Quark wants to cause all kinds of problems just to get the letter to even appear in the block. Unless I go to a lot of trouble to raise the baseline, and lessen the leading, Quark will kick the whole letter out of sight.

Here, I've turned off the runaround so the letter overlays the text block. Remember that runarounds affect the objects behind, rather than in front. We'll put this important "Stacking Order" to use in a few minutes.

Now, I use the polygon tool and draw a polygon shape roughly following the contour of the letter.

Again, I use the Command/Click technique to modify and introduce more anchor points into the runaround.

Now I can configure this just as if it were a graphic, pulling the drop-word closer to the letter, while keeping the rest of the text away from the shape.

Stacking order is everything here, so to complete this set-up I bring the letter "A" to the front so it's ignored by the runarounds below it.

OMETIMES IT SEEMS like it takes a lot of time and effort, but the results are agreeably better. If the project is not that important to you, then use the internal drop cap function.

There are literally hundreds of wonderful illuminated fonts for use in decorative settings.

We've included several ideal fonts for drop caps in the Publishers' Warehouse.

You've already seen Burton above, others include Caxton Initials, and Griffin Dingbats Caps as shown here.

We have many others, if you'd like us to post them, just let us know. You can pick up the fonts in the Publishers' Warehouse Loading Dock if you already read the newsletter and know the location. If no, just stop in and we'll give you the address.

Thanks for reading...

Fred Shower

Also... don't forget to read
Ilene Strizver's article on Initial Letters


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