Kerning Vs Tracking In Typography

Kerning Vs Tracking In Typography

Kerning and tracking are two essential concepts in typography that relate to the spacing between characters in a text. Kerning refers to the adjustment of space between specific pairs of characters, aiming to create a visually balanced and harmonious appearance. It involves reducing or increasing the space between individual letter pairs, taking into account their unique shapes and how they interact with each other. For example, the letter pair AV often requires a reduction in space to avoid a gap that appears too large due to the diagonal strokes of the A and V. Tracking, on the other hand, is the uniform adjustment of space between all characters in a selected range of text. It affects the overall density of the text without changing the relative spacing between individual letter pairs. Designers use tracking to fine-tune the visual density and readability of a text block, depending on factors such as font size, line length, and the desired aesthetic effect. Adjusting tracking can make text appear more compact or more open and airy. While kerning is more concerned with the micro-level adjustments between specific letter pairs, tracking deals with the macro-level spacing of the entire text. Understanding and effectively applying both kerning and tracking is crucial for creating visually appealing, legible, and professional-looking typographic designs. Fun fact: The term kerning originated from the physical process of adjusting the space between metal type characters by cutting away small pieces of the metal, called kerns, to allow characters to sit closer together.

typography spacing character adjustment legibility design

— Taylor Williams

CITATION : "Taylor Williams. 'Kerning Vs Tracking In Typography.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/kerning-vs-tracking-in-typography?E=436305 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"