How do you adjust paragraph spacing on a baseline grid?

[olive_and_finch]

I'm trying to cut down the amount of space between paragraphs within one text box, or adjust the setting for when you press enter to make the space smaller within paragraphs. I'm trying to align some text to a baseline grid and would like to cut it down by a line or two. In the image, it's the space between the two sections under "Work Experience" that I'm trying to decrease. Also, is there a way to make this change apply to only one paragraph?

Thanks.

[Derek Cross]

Part 1 - are you using Paragraph and Character Styles?

[olive_and_finch]

No, I was trying to but couldn't figure it out. I just adjusted everything and have been copying the same text box.

[Derek Cross]

Maybe first of all turn off the baseline grid and deal with the right hand column. You need to decide on the units and get some structure. For example, the text might be 12pt on 14pt with 7pt for Paragraph spaces with headings say 14pt. Do you see how this gives a rhythm to the element. You can set up a Paragraph style for the basic text to include space after (for the 7pt paragraph space).

[Barb Binder]

Baseline grids are awesome in that they align everything to the grid. And they can be a nightmare because they align everything to the grid.

If your body text is, say 10/14, the baseline grid should be set to 14 pts to match the body text leading. If you add even one point (minuscule!) of spacing after, the text hops down 14 pts to the next grid line. Spacing is always added in integral multiples of the grid value, in my example 14, 28, 42, etc. When you need to add flexibility into the spacing, it is time to take that element off the grid.

In the first example, in the main story the body text and subheads are on the grid. Even though the space above is defined as 0p9, they pop down one entire grid line (14 pts).

In this example, the subheads are off the grid and adhere to the specified spacing value.

[Derek Cross]

The baseline grid facility is a wonderful feature, as detailed by BarbBinder above, but you need to sort out the arithmetic first – define the type size and leading and paragraph spacing you are going to use for text and headings. You also need to sort out the hierarchy of the headings, which are confusing. For example, in the left hand column you have both lower-case italic and capital italic headings. I think you should simplify the whole design which, at the moment, is a bit of a mess!