Mastering kerning: Enhance readability and refine your typography.

What is kerning and why does it matter?

Kerning refers to the space between individual characters in a piece of text. Unlike tracking, which adjusts spacing uniformly across all characters, kerning is applied specifically between letter pairs.

Kerning meaning in typography:

• Aims to make text visually even and aesthetically pleasing
• Helps avoid awkward gaps or overlaps between letters
• Ensures consistency in logos, headings and display type

What causes bad kerning?

Even the best typefaces may have inconsistencies in spacing between certain letter pairs, particularly when displayed at large sizes or in all caps.

Common kerning issues:

• Tight pairs: Letters like “A” and “V” or “T” and “o” may appear too close
• Loose pairs: Letters like “W” and “a” or “L” and “T” may look too far apart
• Inconsistent spacing: Random visual gaps in a word, especially in display fonts
• Default kerning settings: Software often applies automatic kerning which may not suit your layout

Visual consequences:

• Reduced legibility
• Imbalanced logos or titles
• Amateur-looking designs

Tip: Always review text at the display size it will appear, not just in your design file’s zoomed-out view.

How to adjust kerning in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

How to spot bad kerning and fix it.

Signs of poor kerning:

• Letters look uneven or awkward
• Some pairs feel too tight or too far apart
• Words seem misaligned when centred
• All-caps text feels “patchy” or unbalanced

Steps to fix kerning:

1. Zoom in: Review letter spacing at display size
2. Use guides: Draw baseline and cap height lines to check letter positioning
3. Adjust incrementally: Start with -20 to +20 in Adobe tools
4. Flip or blur test: Blur or flip text to focus on shape and spacing rather than letter identity
5. Get peer feedback: A fresh eye often spots what you missed

Example: In the word “TRACKING,” the space between “A” and “C” may look too wide. Reduce kerning between those letters to improve balance.

Tips for kerning typography like a pro.

Best practices:

• Start with headline text where poor kerning is most visible
• Use optical kerning for decorative or display fonts
• Review in black and white to remove colour bias
• Use monochrome mockups to spot unevenness quickly
• Save kerning presets in Illustrator for brand-specific typographic styles

Tip: Combine kerning with grid layouts to ensure alignment across typographic systems in print or web design.

How kerning affects branding and readability.

For small businesses and content creators, typography is often the first impression. Tight, well-kerned text communicates care, while sloppy spacing suggests neglect.

Why kerning matters for branding:

• Builds trust and professionalism
• Helps logos and taglines stand out
• Improves scan-ability in web and mobile contexts
• Avoids costly reprints from overlooked spacing errors

Example: A micro business in Delhi redesigned its product labels with proper kerning and increased customer engagement on social media due to better readability and aesthetic cohesion.

Creative use cases where kerning is critical.

1. Social media videos.

• Animate text reveals using kerning to enhance rhythm and flow
• Create dramatic open-to-close effects with dynamic kerning adjustments in {{premiere}} or After Effects

1. Voiceovers for reels and animations.

• Align on-screen text with voice emphasis by fine-tuning kerning and spacing
• Eliminate awkward gaps or crowded characters that disrupt visual harmony

1. Short-form branded content.

• Apply precision kerning to taglines in Instagram ads or product promos for a polished, professional feel
• Use clean, well-spaced typography on thumbnails and event graphics to boost visibility and brand perception

1. Narrated client proposals.

• Present logos or title redesigns with improved kerning for a more refined look
• Use before-and-after spacing examples to visually showcase the design improvement

1. Remote collaboration and design consistency.

• Share Creative Cloud files that include kerning guides and type notes as part of your design system
• Use layer comments in Illustrator or Photoshop to flag specific spacing refinements and streamline approvals

Example:

An animator working remotely with a motion designer saved significant production time by using shared Illustrator files with pre-kerned text. The consistent spacing across assets not only accelerated the workflow but also ensured visual harmony from draft to delivery.

How Adobe Creative Cloud helps refine kerning workflows.

Adobe Creative Cloud offers advanced kerning features, ideal for typography-focused designers working across platforms.

Key apps:

• Adobe Illustrator: Vector-based design with granular kerning control
• Adobe Photoshop: Ideal for raster and text blending in composites
• Adobe InDesign: Best for print layouts and editorial kerning precision
• Creative Cloud Libraries: Store paragraph styles, type presets and branded text templates
• Adobe XD: Use for prototyping UIs with pixel-perfect text alignment
• {{premiere}} & After Effects: Add kerned type to video for consistent motion branding

Tip: Use Adobe Bridge to compare exported samples from different apps and check kerning results across file types and screen resolutions.

Refine your typography with confident kerning techniques.

Whether you're building a brand, designing a reel, or laying out a brochure, kerning is a vital part of professional typography. Knowing what is kerning, how to correct it and when to apply it can make all the difference in creating polished, readable and memorable designs. By learning how to adjust font kerning in Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign, and applying those techniques in real-world use cases, you’ll deliver cleaner, more impactful visuals that elevate your creative work. With Adobe Creative Cloud, every element of kerning typography is within reach - enabling you to refine, collaborate and publish with confidence.