Drop cap typography advice: short lines and lines that start with quotation marks

[The Patina]

Hi all

I seem to be on a roll questions-wise: 2 in 2 days!

Ok so...

I have a new book client that has requested drop cals for the first (untabbed) para that starts each chapter.

For most paragraphs, I've created an 'untabbed drop cap' paragraph style that does what it says on the tin: applies a one letter, three line drop cap, scaled for descenders.

The result for this...

Becomes this:

The conundrum for me is what to do with:

a. Single line chapter entries and

b. Chapter entries that begin with speech / quotation marks.

For example:

Becomes this, if I blindly apply the same style:

...which don't look great!

So, my question is part typographic, and part technique / technical.

Am open to suggestions and guidance 🙂

VBW

M

[Migintosh]

Did you see this one: https://indesignsecrets.com/topic/how-do-i-apply-a-drop-cap-when-the-sentence-starts-in-quotes

[The Patina]

Hi Migintosh

Yes I did see that one in my digging.

I was kind of on the fence about the culmination of the thread. Plus it doesn't completely cover the short lines query.

So am still open to guidance and suggestions.

Thx for the find though!

VBW

M