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Bedazzled532
Inspiring
March 24, 2023
Answered

Drop Caps behind the scene

  • March 24, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 797 views

Hi

I would like to know how does the Drop Cap works behind the scene.

 

Just in case if I want to give drop cap manually without using InDesign's help, how can I do that ?

I know it is a silly question but I would like to know. 

 

I was trying to give a drop cap manually in my document for some reason but it did not work out well. 

I created a character style of 30 points font size. BUT I was not able to apply 2 lines or 3 lines option manually.

 

Thanks and sorry for such a silly question.

Regards

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

I am not sure there is any simple way to do a multi-line drop cap in InDesign other than by placing the initial in a text box, and positioning that box, with appropriate anchoring, size and text wrap.

 

When exported to HTML or EPUB, it's actually quite simple in HTML/CSS code. The export is usually 'perfect' and it's easy to change or tweak it using CSS. But in ID, I think that text frame is needed unless you use the built-in feature.

 

3 replies

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 24, 2023

Don't include the size in  character style here. If the size does not fit because of the different font, use percentage scaling.

Bedazzled532
Inspiring
March 25, 2023

@Willi Adelberger Ok. I have not tried that but will it make a difference ? Anyway I will give it a try.

Bedazzled532
Inspiring
March 25, 2023

@Willi Adelberger Your percentage scaling method worked to some extent. Now the only thing left is number of lines to be indented, which I guess will work if I put an anchored box or box with text wrap on.

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 24, 2023

Hi @Bedazzled532 You mean you can't do this? (or I don't understand the question…) 

 

Bedazzled532
Inspiring
March 25, 2023

@jmlevy Hi. Thanks for the reply. Ofcourse I can do that BUT I would like to know how to do it manually without using Indesign's Dropcap feature. 

Regards

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 25, 2023

@Bedazzled532 I had a doubt when I was writing my answer, my apologies. But I am curious to know why you don't want to use the drop cap feature…

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
March 24, 2023

I am not sure there is any simple way to do a multi-line drop cap in InDesign other than by placing the initial in a text box, and positioning that box, with appropriate anchoring, size and text wrap.

 

When exported to HTML or EPUB, it's actually quite simple in HTML/CSS code. The export is usually 'perfect' and it's easy to change or tweak it using CSS. But in ID, I think that text frame is needed unless you use the built-in feature.

 

Bedazzled532
Inspiring
March 24, 2023

@James Gifford—NitroPress Thanks. I thought so that it would be difficult to do it manually.