Applying Paragraph Formatting
In Canvas X Draw, you can control paragraph attributes, such as justification and leading. Paragraph attributes affect entire paragraphs, even if you select a single character, or place the insertion point anywhere in the paragraph. If you select text in multiple paragraphs, all the paragraphs will be affected.
Paragraph-level formatting includes leading and paragraph spacing, indents, tabs, alignment (justification), automatic letter and word spacing, and widow and orphan controls.
Setting Line and Paragraph Spacing
Using the Text menu, Properties bar, or Type palette, adjust the spacing, or leading, between lines of text. You can also insert extra space before and after paragraphs using the Type palette.
Canvas X Draw provides two methods of specifying leading: ratio (or percentage) and point size.
- Ratio and percentage leading: Based on the normal leading of the largest type size in the preceding line. The normal leading is usually designed to be slightly larger than the point size of the type; e.g., a single line of 12-point text usually occupies about 15 points of vertical space when you specify 100% or Single Space leading. Therefore, double spaced, or 200%, leading for 12-point text increases the line spacing to about 30 points.
- Leading specified in points: Independent of the type size and normal leading of the typeface. The space from baseline to baseline is exactly the number of points specified, regardless of the size of the type. Using point size leading lets you maintain consistent line spacing, and fit text to specific space requirements; e.g., you have 10 lines of text, and exactly 120 points of vertical space to place the text. To make the text fit, set the leading to 12 points.
Choose Text | Leading to set Single, 11/2, or Double Space leading. You can also choose the Tighten or Loosen commands to fine-tune the current leading in 0.5-point increments. You can tighten and loosen the leading repeatedly, but the line spacing cannot be less than zero.
The text settings in the Properties bar provides the same options as the Leading submenu.
The Paragraph tab of the Type palette lets you adjust the leading by a specified percentage or point size. You can also add space between paragraphs by specifying additional spacing in points on the Paragraph tab of the Type palette.
A page of text with |
A page of text that does not have paragraph spacing, but uses both “before” and “after paragraph” spacing for block quotes |
To Set Leading Using Menu Commands:
- Choose Text | Leading. A checkmark appears next to the current leading setting.
- Choose a standard leading in the submenu, or choose Tighten or Loosen. Canvas X Draw applies the setting immediately.
To Set Leading in the Type Palette:
Click the Paragraph tab of the Type palette. After configuring the settings, click Apply to implement them.
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Line spacing |
Percentage: Set the leading using a percentage of the line size. Enter an amount in the At box. A leading of 100% is the same as the Normal setting in the Text | Leading submenu. Double space is 200%, and 1.5 space is 150%. Points: Set the leading in points. Enter an amount in the At box. Although each font’s standard leading might be different, normal leading is generally between 110% and 125% of the largest type size on the line; therefore, for 10-point type, normal leading is approximately 12 points. |
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To insert space before the first line of a paragraph, specify the number of points in the Before paragraph box. This option does not apply to the first paragraph in a column. |
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After paragraph |
To insert space after the last line of a paragraph, specify the number of points in the After paragraph box. Canvas X Draw inserts space after every paragraph, including the last paragraph in a column. |
Force a line break without creating a new paragraph by pressing Shift-Return.
To Control Line Breaks:
“Soft” returns are forced line breaks which do not create new paragraphs.
- Place the insertion point where you want the soft return.
- Press Shift+Enter. Text to the right of the soft return moves to the next line.
- To view soft return symbols: Choose Layout | Display | Show Text Invisibles.
- To hide soft return symbols: Choose Layout | Display | Hide Text Invisibles.