Understanding Letter Spacing in Photoshop: The Unit of Measurement Explained

In the realm of digital design, particularly when working with texts and typography, letter spacing or tracking is a crucial aspect to master. This essential design tool is often utilized in applications like Adobe Photoshop. However, for many designers, understanding the precise unit of measurement used in Photoshop’s letter spacing function can be a bit confusing. In this article, we will delve into the specifics of the unit of measurement used by this function and clarify related concepts such as ems and tracking.

What Unit of Measurement Does the Letter Spacing Function Use in Photoshop?

The letter spacing function in Photoshop is based on thousandths of an em. This unit of measurement is derived from the current nominal point or px size of the typeface being used. An "em" is defined as a size equal to the current nominal point or px size of the type. For example, if you are working with 12-point type, then each unit is 12/1000ths of an em. This means if you set the letter spacing to 2, you would be adding 24/1000ths of an em to each letter or character space.

It's important to note that an em is not a fixed measurement, nor is it tied to any specific part of a letter. It is a relative measurement tied to the current font size. This concept can be counterintuitive, especially for designers who are accustomed to using more straightforward units like pixels (px) or points (pt).

Common Misconceptions and Clarifications

Sometimes, there is confusion about how the unit of measurement for letter spacing in Photoshop is influenced by the version of Adobe Photoshop. Many designers are concerned that changing the general units of measure in Photoshop's preferences might affect the functioning of the letter spacing tool. However, this is not the case. Configuring Photoshop’s general units of measure does not impact the letter spacing function directly. The tracking (or letter spacing) is adjusted in relation to the character size set, measured in EM fractions.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

While Photoshop is a versatile tool, it is not always the best choice for extensive text settings suitable for multiple paragraphs of body text. Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign are more appropriate for such tasks due to their advanced typography features and greater control over readability and legibility. However, for small adjustments or prototyping, Photoshop can be a handy tool.

Here are a few practical tips for working with letter spacing in Photoshop:

Set the units of measurement in Photoshop preferences. You can choose between pixels, points, or millimeters for measuring text sizes and leading (line spacing). Use the units of measure directly in your work. You can enter the character size as 18pt or 0.25in, and it will be automatically converted to a unit based on the current settings. Understand the tracking field, which is the area where you adjust the letter spacing. The tracking is measured in 1/1000th of an em unit, relative to the current type size. Avoid using tracking as a tool for novice typesetters. For better control and optimal readability, rely on hyphenation and line length adjustments in paragraphs of body text first.

Conclusion:

Understanding the unit of measurement used in Photoshop's letter spacing function is essential for mastering typography in digital design. By grasping the concept of ems and how they work in relation to tracking, designers can make more informed and effective text adjustments. While Photoshop is a powerful tool, it's important to know its limitations and when to use more specialized software for text-intensive projects.

Keywords: letter spacing, Photoshop, font function, em units, tracking