What is Kerning?

Kerning involves adjusting the spacing between characters in a proportional font, usually to achieve a visually pleasing result. Kerning can be applied either manually or automatically.


More About Kerning

In manual kerning, designers adjust the spacing between pairs of letters by eye, according to their experience and aesthetic judgment.

By contrast, in automatic kerning, which is built into many modern software applications, the computer calculates appropriate spacing based on the shapes of the characters.

Although it is possible to kern most individual character pairs manually, this is generally only done for headlines or other exceptional cases. In body text, automatic kerning is usually used because it is more efficient and results in a consistent appearance.

Kerning plays an essential role in creating readable, attractive text. It can make a text more visually appealing and easy to read when done well. However, when done poorly, it can make a text look cluttered and difficult to read.

Special Offer
Custom Website Design
Get a one-of-a-kind, mobile-friendly website that makes your brand truly shine. Share your vision with us and we'll take it from there.