What's this space called, and how do I adjust it?

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
October 22, 2025
3 replies
486 views

I have a project with mixed fonts/symbols on the same line, and the distance the line "descends" is based on some font settings, I assume.

In this example, you can see the differences in spacing above the Ws:

When the word "Wish" is removed, the W of "When" is flush against the top of the text box (solid magenta line). When adding other fonts/symbols onto a line, as you see here, I'd like the W in When to remain at the top of the text box (and, in this case, the W in Wish would ascend above it).

The only thing I found so far in googling for that space is "Line Height," but I don't think that's it.
Is there a way to adjust this on a Character-Style level in InDesign?

I'd rather avoid baseline-shifing my main body text.

Any help appreciated!

How to

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @turner111 , Also, if the thread @Joel Cherney links to doesn’t cover your case where you have different point sizes on the first line. This might help—no one will agree where the first line of a text frame should start, so there is the First Baseline preference:

The largest pont size in the first line’s Cap Height:

Fixed puts the first baseline (which does not change with font size) on the top of the frame:

With Fixed you can customize the first baseline and set the cap height of the smaller text size to align with the top of the frame

Peter Spier

Community Expert

Select the text frame and open the Text Frame Options dialog. Under the Baseline Options tab use the dropdown to select Fixed for first baseline, and set the Minimum value to waht it needs to be to position your W where you want it and that should force the larger text to rise abve the top of the frame.

T

turner111Author

Inspiring

Hey Peter - thanks - looks like this should work.
Still trying to figure out how this is set and/or adjusted on a font level, though. 🙂

Peter Spier

Community Expert

I think you are going to find that this will require a lot of trial and error as the Cap Height (distance above the baseline to the top of the Capitals) and the baseline position relative to the leading "slug" (the total vertical space occupied by the type including any ascenders and descenders as well as top- and bottom-bearing allowances) is at the discretion of the type designerand will vary with the font chosen.

You might try highlighting a bit of text in your font at the size and leading you are specifying which should give you a highlighted representation of the type slug and if you zoom in you might be able to use the Measure tool to get a good reading.