Question
What's the difference between leading, kerning, and tracking?
Answer
Leading, kerning, and tracking are three typography controls that shape how text reads on a printed piece. Each adjusts spacing in a different direction.
| Term | Controls | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Leading | Space between lines of text | Vertical |
| Kerning | Gap between two specific characters | Horizontal, one pair |
| Tracking | Spacing across a word, line, or block | Horizontal, uniform |
- Leading around 120 to 145 percent of the font size keeps body copy readable.
- Kerning fixes awkward pairs like AV or To that look uneven at default spacing.
- Tracking sets the overall openness of a heading or text block.
Used together, they create balanced, legible type that holds up in print.
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