kerning- about kerning.

Kerning – the lowdown:

Kerning is the space between letter pairs. When you set type in any pro-grade graphics program (like Photoshop, Fireworks, etc.), you have the ability to alter the space between letter pairs, making minute adjustments until your type looks just right.

What's that you say? "It looks fine without adjustments of the space between letter pairs?" Put down those pork rinds and pay close attention Cletus...I'm going to enlighten you.

Proper kerning is, in my opinion, the single biggest thing -- and the first thing I notice, that separates the work of professional designers from that of 'apprentice' or 'wanna-be' designers.

The amount of empty space between letter pairs 'wants' to be equal, and that's the goal of hand kerning your type. Your mind reads the words your eyes see. When there is visual and spatial continuity between all the objects (letters) it's easier to read, the better things look, and the more you can concentrate on the meaning of the words, rather than the minute 'visual hitches' that are created by poor kerning.

The fonts you use have information about spacing between letter pairs embedded in them normally. If they don't have that info, the graphics program handles the spacing between letter pairs. Sometimes the graphics program and the letter pair spacing data both fail you, and it's up to you to fix that.