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A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-12 08:40:52
by wwgreaves
Am I correct in understanding that TWIP means “twentieth of an inch point”?

If so, if I want to loosen the spacing of letters in a word in small caps set in 10 pt by 6%, do I use 12 TWIPS?

10 pt X 6% X 20 TWIPS/pt = 12 TWIPS

Is that correct?

Would it be possible to change the kerning units to percentages instead of TWIPS, as in Pages ‘09?

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-13 04:31:53
by phspaelti
I know nothing about twips. But assuming your calculation to be correct I am adding a macro which you can use to set the kerning in the desired manner.
It will prompt you for a percentage (e.g. enter '6') and then apply that to the selection.
Set Kerning by Percent.nwm
(17.09 KiB) Downloaded 632 times

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-13 11:17:10
by wwgreaves
Many thanks! Will the macro work for any point size?

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-13 15:52:49
by phspaelti
The macro checks the point size of the selection, but only very simply. If you select a bit with mixed point sizes (or non-contiguous bits with different point sizes) the results will not be accurate. If that's something that you want, the macro could be adjusted.

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-13 20:22:42
by phspaelti
Here is a more sophisticated macro that works for selections with mixed point sizes. It calculates the twips for each point size used, and selects the bits in that size and adjusts the kerning accordingly. It works for non-contiguous selections as well.
Set Kerning by Percent.nwm
(19.11 KiB) Downloaded 608 times

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-20 08:14:22
by wwgreaves
Wow! Many thanks —

Best wishes for the year ahead —

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-20 12:06:23
by greenmorpher
Philip that is most helpful -- as ever.

As for the OP's question about TWIPS, yes, that is what they are but since you have set up your macro to work as a percentage, which works perfectly fine with computer type, TWIPs are not required.

Merry Xmas and a happy NY.

Cheers, geoff

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-21 03:18:22
by Groucho
Hi, Geoff

Is it legal to say Christmas? I thought it was replaced by the more politically correct Dies Solis Invicti. We’re all Romans now.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Henry.

Re: A Question About Kerning: TWIPS

Posted: 2013-12-22 11:24:04
by Elbrecht