Typography isn't just about letters, it's about feelings. Every font, every space between letters, every shift in size can completely change how your design is perceived. Whether you're designing a poster, branding a business, or creating content for social media, understanding how to use the Type Tool effectively is a must for any designer.
Let’s break down the core concepts: Fonts, Sizes, Tracking, Leading, Kerning, and a few more essentials you should have in your design toolkit.
1. Fonts: The Voice of Your Text
Fonts are more than just styles—they carry personality. Choosing the right font is like picking the right tone of voice for your message.
- Serif Fonts (like Times New Roman): Traditional, reliable, formal.
- Sans Serif Fonts (like Helvetica or Montserrat): Clean, modern, minimal.
- Script Fonts (like Pacifico or Great Vibes): Elegant, playful, handwritten.
- Display Fonts (like Bebas Neue or Impact): Loud, bold, attention-grabbing.
💡 Tip: Use no more than two fonts in a design. A solid pairing could be a serif for headings and a sans-serif for body text.
2. Font Size: Establishing Hierarchy
Font size determines the visual importance of your text.
- Use larger sizes for headings and smaller ones for body text.
- Always consider readability. On-screen, 16–18pt is a sweet spot for body copy.
💡 Pro Tip: Maintain a clear typographic hierarchy using 3–4 text styles: Title, Subtitle, Body, and Caption.
3. Tracking: Letter Spacing Across the Board
Tracking adjusts the spacing between all letters in a word or sentence equally.
- Tight tracking gives a compact look, great for large headlines.
- Loose tracking adds breathing room and a more airy feel.
✅ Use tighter tracking for bold fonts
✅ Use looser tracking for all-caps or lighter fonts
4. Leading: Line Spacing That Breathes
Leading (pronounced ledding) is the vertical space between lines of text.
- Tight leading can feel cramped.
- Too much leading feels disconnected.
💡 A good rule of thumb: Set leading to 120%–145% of your font size. For example, 16pt text can have 20–24pt leading.
5. Kerning: Precision Spacing Between Two Letters
Kerning is like tracking’s more precise cousin—it adjusts space between specific pairs of letters.
Some fonts may have awkward spacing between letters like “A” and “V.” Kerning fixes that, making your text look more polished and intentional.
6. Paragraph Settings: Alignment, Indents, and Justification
- Left-aligned is the most common and readable.
- Center-aligned is good for titles or short lines of text.
- Justified gives a clean edge but can create odd gaps.
- Indents help separate paragraphs when line breaks aren’t enough.
7. Bonus Settings You Should Know
- Baseline Shift – Moves selected text up or down relative to the baseline. Great for fine-tuning.
- Vertical & Horizontal Scale – Stretches or squashes text. Use sparingly!
- Fake Bold/Italic – Avoid these unless absolutely necessary. Always choose real font styles for quality results.
Final Thoughts
Typography is one of those things that seems simple—until it’s not. The smallest adjustments can make a big difference in readability, aesthetics, and impact.
Next time you're working on a design, pay close attention to your type settings. Ask yourself:
- Is my font choice speaking the right message?
- Is the hierarchy clear?
- Are my lines easy to read?
With practice, the Type Tool becomes a powerful brush in your digital art kit.
