Aldus-Guide-to-Basic-Design

Leading

Adjust line spacing.

To refine the appearance of your publication or adapt text to available space, adjust the vertical spacing between lines of type. This is called leading (pronounced “ledding”).

Bold, elegant lines mark spring fashions

Proper leading ensures that the bottoms of letters in one line do not touch the tops of letters in the next line.

Bold, elegant lines mark spring fashions

The above headline has too much vertical spacing. The lines do not relate well to each other, making them dif- ficult to read.

Bold, elegant lines mark spring fashions

Tightening up the leading conserves space and improves both the appearance and readability of this headline. When adjusting leading, make certain that you do not inadvertently draw attention to one part of your publi- cation at the expense of another. Also ensure that your publication’s graphic consistency has not been com- promised; the leading applied to each element of text should be the same throughout your publication.

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THE ALDUS GUIDE TO BASIC DESIGN