Gratuitous extra Space Before a Line containing a Subscript

[Jack]

My inDesign document includes chemical symbols and compounds, that require subscripts. Every line of text containing subscripts has extra space _sbove_ the line. This makes the inDesign manuscript look strange. If there is any way to avoid that extra half-height line, I would appreciate a pointer.

I originated the document using Pages (Apple app), where subscripts are rendered just fine. However, my printer could not work with the exported PDF because embedded fonts were not present. If anyone can show me how to embed fonts in an existing PDF generated from a Pages document, that would be even more helpful.

[Jack]

Another option may be to adjust (if possible) the amount of the drop-down of the subscripts. I just noticed that Pages does not drop them as far, and that they have no effect on line spacing.

[MW Design · Accepted solution]

Is you leading a percentage? If you set it to a discrete amount, e.g., 11pt, then the leading should not grow to accommodate the subscripts (or superscripts if there are any).

Mike

[Jack]

Perfect, Mike and all. I changed 'Leading' from (15.2) to 15, and that got rid of the extra half-height line just like you said it would. Then, under Preferences | Type| Subscript, I was able to change position from 33.3% to 15%, and now, AOK. Thanks to all of you for most useful help in this.

[Jongware]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/MW+Design  wrote

Is you leading a percentage? If you set it to a discrete amount, e.g., 11pt, then the leading should not grow to accommodate the subscripts (or superscripts if there are any).

That cannot be the source of this. Other than in (unstyled) HTML, the leading in inDesign is not affected by superscripts and subscripts. My guess is that the subscript style contain a larger font size as well. If the leading is set to Auto, InDesign will use the *largest* font size in a line to calculate it.

Don't use an absolute font size for superscripts and subscripts. Either set their relative sizes through Preferences, or – if you don't want to change the global setting – use Horizontal and Vertical Scale to change their size.

[Jack]

Please see my earlier replies. Changing leading by a small amount, from (I think) (15.5) to 15, made the half-height line go away. i followed that by a small change in the position of the subscript, in Preferences | type | advanced character type

[Bill Silbert]

Jack  wrote

has extra space _sbove_ the line.

I don't think that this is how you intended the line to read so I am confused as to exactly what is happening. Could you possibly post a screen shot showing what the problem looks like?

[Jack]

I tried to upload a jpg (forbidden). Tried psd . . . also forbidden!

But no, I really meant it: adding a subscript results in a half-hight line _above_ the line containing the subscript.

Will try again later, with alternate image types, or any suggestions?

[Bill Silbert]

To answer your questions see screen shot below:

To upload a screen shot click on the icon shown at left above which is in the row of icons in the Reply box. I've never had a problem uploading a png file so I would recommend using that. The second picture shows where your leading can be set in theCharacter Panel. The third picture shows the icon in the Control Panel that should be used to create a subscript and the fourth picture shows the default preferences for subscripts in the Advanced Type section of InDesign preferences.

In your original post you said that the document originated in another program. I am inclined to suspect that may be the reason that you are seeing a problem which I have been unable to recreate. Try creating a fresh InDesign document and applying a subscript and see if the problem still happens.

[Jack]

Thanks, Bill. Partial answer now, more later. When I pasted from Pages, all subscripts rendered as plain characters. I then made them subscripts, when the aforesaid problem occurred. But let me work with your other suggestions, and hope that a solution will emerge.

jwc

[Jack]

Could not find the ‘leading’ setting. Where is that?

jwc

[MW Design]

I assume you are using styles. It's under the Basic section I believe. Or use Bill's screen second shot (the wide one) and update the paragraph style being used.

On that screen shot and in the paragraph style entry, if you see parenthesis around the leading value, that means it is automatic leading (a percentage). There's reasons to use that setting, right up until there isn't (like in your case).

Mike

[Jack]

Yes, using styles. More later.

Thanks,

jwc

[Jack]

png type is also 'forbidden'.

jwc

[Laubender]

Jack  wrote

png type is also 'forbidden'.

jwc

Hi Jack,

this is a forum malfunction for some ( currently I'm also affected ) and is hopefully sorted out soon.

But I cannot tell when this will be fixed.

Regards,
Uwe

[Jack]

Vielen Dank, Uwe!

Wolfgang