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A
Angusdog
Inspiring
May 28, 2012
Question

Specifying font sizes in pixels (for DPS)

  • May 28, 2012
  • 4 replies
  • 28044 views

Hi,

Is it possible to specify font sizes in pixels. It keeps setting it in points, even if I type "16px" into the font field. (CS6 on Win 7).

It used to be in the units pane of the preferences panel (5.5), but can't find it anywhere. Is it, as I suspect, no longer applicable with Renditions?

Thanks,

Simon.

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

T
Tamara_
New Participant
July 31, 2023

I'm having the same issue, but I need to recreate a document in indesign that was initially created in illustrator. I place the illustrator file in ID at 100%, the sizes match. I put an indesign text box above the text I have in AI, which is specified as 25.25pt, and set my type to the same font, same point size. it does not match.

There is nothing wrong with the view/zoom. that's not the issue. All transformations are cleared.
The point/pica size is set to Postscript, 72 pts/inch in Indd, and still. not the same! I have to manually try my way to matching it. What is happening, and is there a fix?

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 31, 2023

This discussion is TEN YEARS OLD. Please start a new one with full details including version of ID, AI, O/S. I'm locking this one to avoid any confusion.

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 24, 2013

Try it your self in 2 identically sized (by pixels) documents, 1 in photoshop and 1 in Indesign. A 20 pt character in InDesign will be larger than a 20 px character in photoshop.

InDesign's Zoom function changed in CS6. Prior to CS6 100% view in ID matched the 100% view in Photoshop—in both programs 100% showed a 1:1 monitor pixel to image pixel ratio. Now CS6's 100% view calculates the monitor resolution and displays the page at its print size, so  if you preview a 800x600 pixel document at 100% in both programs they will appear to be different sizes.

If you double-click ID's Zoom tool you will get the 1:1 ratio and 20pts will match Photoshop's 20pts when the Photoshop zoom is at 100%:

You can get the old zoom ratios via scripting. See this thread:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4502849#4502849

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 24, 2013

Thanks Rob,

that's a very good addition!

J
jsherman
New Participant
October 24, 2013

Pixels DO NOT equal points. Anyone who says so has not worked in both print and screen media.

Try it your self in 2 identically sized (by pixels) documents, 1 in photoshop and 1 in Indesign. A 20 pt character in InDesign will be larger than a 20 px character in photoshop.

For those of us who sketch in InDesign, Adobe, PLEASE PLEASE let us spec type in pixels again for InDesign!!!!!  (not sure why they would even choose to remove this feature)

    Ton Frederiks
    Community Expert
    Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 24, 2013

    Of course I have tried it out and I cannot see a single pixel difference in size between Photoshop and InDesign.

    Make sure your InDesign document is setup in Pixels (presets for Web and Digital Publishing will do that).

    Make sure that your InDesign Preferences specify the point size as "PostScript 72 pts/inch".

    Make sure that your Photoshop document has a resolution of 72 pixels/inch.

    Make sure that your Photoshop preferences for Units & Rulers specify the Point/Pica size the same as in InDesign: PostScript (72 points/inch)

    regards,

    Ton

      J
      jsherman
      New Participant
      October 24, 2013

      How about going from InDesign to HTML CSS? A 20 point letter in InDesign is larger than a 20 pixel letter in HTML. When I mean larger, I mean in relation to a standard 300 pixel surrounding box.  Is there any way around this? See http://forums.adobe.com/message/5785063#5785063 for full explanation of the problem.

      Ton Frederiks
      Community Expert
      Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 6, 2012

      I do not know why that option disappeared in CS6, but I would not worry too much about it. 1 point = 1 pixel.

      As long as you do not change the size of the points in the preferences and keep it at "PostScript 72 pts/inch", a point is the same as a pixel for InDesign.

      regards,

      Ton

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