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bpozna
Participant
December 23, 2020
Question

Can default kerning be changed in InDesign

  • December 23, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1076 views

Is it possible to change the default kerning from metrics to optical? I routinely use a font that looks better with optical and would prefer it to be my default.

 

Thanks.

 

Mac OS

IND 14.0.3 (will be upgrading in a few months)

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3 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 23, 2020

Hi bponza,

I would add a new paragraph style that is based on [No Paragraph Style] when no document is open and define optical kerning there. Also do a new document with that style so that you can easily load the style from that document to documents you already did.

 

Note: I would never ever change the defaults on the [Basic Paragraph Style].

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

 

    Mike Witherell
    Community Expert
    Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 23, 2020

    Yes. With no documents open, go to the Paragraph Styles panel. Right-click to edit Basic Paragraph Style. 

    Make the following essential changes:

    1. Change Kerning Method from Metrics to Optical

    2. Change Hyphenation to 9, 3, 4, 1, 1p6, off, off, off

    3. Change Justification to 80/100/120; -5/0/5; 95/100/105

    Making such changes when no documents are open changes global defaults of all new documents and/or new paragraph styles. It will not retroactively change any existing paragraph styles nor older documents.

    Mike Witherell
      Jens Trost
      Jens Trost
      Inspiring
      December 25, 2020

      If you change the default basic paragraph style, what happens if you copy your text with basic style applied to another document where those changes have not been implemented?

      Exactly, InDesign uses the (wrong) settings of the document it is copied into and causes a whole mess.
      Deviations from the basic style are no longer recognized and therefore can cause troubles everywhere because you always have a basic style in your document but never know how that is changed IF you change it.

       

      That's why I'm with Uwe on this one: you never ever change the default styles.

      M
      Community Expert
      Manan JoshiCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 23, 2020

      Try setting it to optical from the Character panel with no document open

      -Manan

      -Manan
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