Actual Text Size discrepancy with Ruler dimensions

[RPahlavan]

Hello--

I am working on a document in designer and have set the text dimensions to appear in inches (document has already been set up to show in inches, so the document's ruler is set to inches in units). 

However, when the dimensions are set to 0.75in for text height - the actual measured height (when lined up close to the ruler scale and when 'measuring' by using guide lines) is only 0.54in in height. I have exhausted my attempts at finding someone else with the same problem or any online help available. Screenshot included. 

Any help much appreciated!

 

[walt.farrell]

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums.

The font size you specify includes several different aspects, which together make up the size. For example:

• You need to account for room for descenders (y, g, p) that extend below the baseline.
• And you need room for ascenders, which might be used for diacriticals that appear above the letters (such as accent marks) or might be used for lower-case letters that are taller than the upper-case letters.

You can't simply pick a font size in inches and assume that will be the letter height.

 

[RPahlavan]

Thanks for the reply Walt.  I am not a graphic designer, so I must admit your response is somewhat over my head. Sorry, my presumption was that picking the font size would indeed be setting the font height (capitalized).

I gather then that my best approach is to go with WYSIWYG scaling of the text to achieve the right size on my display?

[walt.farrell]

6 minutes ago, RPahlavan said:

I gather then that my best approach is to go with WYSIWYG scaling of the text to achieve the right size on my display?

Depending on exactly what you're trying to accomplish, I think so.

If you know you're working with all capital letters, for example, you could use the Artistic Text Tool. Set up your Guides as you did, set the Tool's crosshair on the top Guide, and drag the tool until the crosshair is on the lower Guide to set the font size. Then type your letters.

[RPahlavan]

It's a restaurant menu board with letters to be cut in peel and stick vinyl.  I will try what you recommend!

Thanks so much Walt!

Sorry for the newbie questions. 

[Pšenda]

6 hours ago, RPahlavan said:

your response is somewhat over my head.

[Raptosauru5]

@walt.farrell Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Do you perhaps know how exactly does Affinity measure the font?

And maybe some tips on how should I measure it when designing? (Are professionals measuring the font's position from it's center, x-height line, cap/descender line, ascender/descender line or just cap/baseline?). I am designing an App layout and I am not completely sure how to place texts so they are correctly aligned to other elements

[walt.farrell]

37 minutes ago, Raptosauru5 said:

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Do you perhaps know how exactly does Affinity measure the font?

You're welcome.

Sorry, but no, I do not know which of the Font's defined measurements are used, as I've never tried to figure it out and I've never examined the details of any specific fonts that closely.

[MikeTO]

1 hour ago, Raptosauru5 said:

Do you perhaps know how exactly does Affinity measure the font?

And maybe some tips on how should I measure it when designing? (Are professionals measuring the font's position from it's center, x-height line, cap/descender line, ascender/descender line or just cap/baseline?). I am designing an App layout and I am not completely sure how to place texts so they are correctly aligned to other elements

Affinity measures type size the same way every other program but the size of type varies between fonts. For example, all of these letters are the same size but their heights look quite different.

The font designer can choose how much space a character takes up. Without getting all technical, apps don't scale the characters to a specific physical size but instead scale the enclosing space. The font designer can go above or below the lines shown in the great reference diagram earlier in this thread.

if you really want some text to be exactly 1 inch tall, create it as Art Text and then convert it to curves. Then scale it as required because it will now be a path and you can control the physical size.

[Raptosauru5]

Thanks Mike, this is very helpful!!