Text spacing

[KariF]

I'm using Text/Spacing/Tighten or Loosen.  How do I get the space between the g and the i to connect in order to laser cut the word as one?

Also, is there an option on the right to use to adjust?  I couldn't figure out the symbols on the shortcut.

Thanks!

 

[kenmcd]

That font has an alternate g with a longer tail - which with a little manual kerning will overlap the i.

[R C-R]

If is not obvious (it was not to me at first), to apply kerning place the text cursor between the two characters you want to change the kerning for & change it in the Character panel. Note the ‰ in the values shown for that field, the per mille sign, indicating parts per thousand.

[Alfred]

5 hours ago, LibreTraining said:

That font has an alternate g with a longer tail - which with a little manual kerning will overlap the i.

Please see the Billabong User Guide.

[KariF]

10 hours ago, LibreTraining said:

That font has an alternate g with a longer tail - which with a little manual kerning will overlap the i.

I am new to Designer so still finding options.  I found the character panel and adjusted when the cursor was between the g and the I but that made other letters too close together and overlapped.  How do I get the tail on the g?  I think that would work if the cursor was between I and c.?

Edited September 25, 2021 by KariF
Adding updated image and panels

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, KariF said:

I found the character panel and adjusted when the cursor was between the g and the I but that made other letters too close together and overlapped.

That sounds like you adjusted the Tracking, not the Kerning. Kerning is the first setting, currently set to 2 in your screenshot. You also have the Tracking set to -52.

From the user guide that Alfred pointed to, you can't get that alternate "g" unless it's followed by a space or return.

[kenmcd]

1 minute ago, walt.farrell said:

From the user guide that Alfred pointed to, you can't get that alternate "g" unless it's followed by a space or return.

Should be able to get to it using the OpenType Access All Alternates (aalt) feature, or by using the Glyph Browser.

Been watching these discussions, but on my phone at the moment - will check this later.

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, KariF said:

I found the character panel and adjusted when the cursor was between the g and the I but that made other letters too close together and overlapped.

That is because as your screenshot shows, you changed the tracking, not the kerning:

Tip: while learning how to use the app, it is helpful in Preferences > User Interface to set the Tooltip delay to a small value (slider almost all the way to the left) so the names of buttons, fields, etc. pop up quickly.

[kenmcd]

5 hours ago, KariF said:

How do I get the tail on the g?

Appears the individual alternate g is only in current versions of the commercial version.

The free version (v1.000, 2006) only has that g as part of the ing_alt ligature glyph.
The commercial version I have is also very old (v1.003, 2015) and does not have that individual g.alt glyph, but it too has the ing_alt ligature glyph.
Note: there is no way to access that ing_alt glyph using OpenType features because the Contextual Alternates (calt) code is not there, and there is no aalt feature present.
It does appear in the Glyph Browser (G+00EE).
You can also Toggle Unicode (alt+U) and enter "G+00EE" and then toggle back.

If you have the current commercial version, you should be able to find the single alternate g in the Glyph Browser.

If you are trying to create this using the old free version, you will need to convert the glyphs to curves and make the shape changes yourself.

[KariF]

7 minutes ago, LibreTraining said:

Appears the individual alternate g is only in current versions of the commercial version.

The free version (v1.000, 2006) only has that g as part of the ing_alt ligature glyph.
The commercial version I have is also very old (v1.003, 2015) and does not have that individual g.alt glyph, but it too has the ing_alt ligature glyph.
Note: there is no way to access that ing_alt glyph using OpenType features because the Contextual Alternates (calt) code is not there, and there is no aalt feature present.
It does appear in the Glyph Browser (G+00EE).
You can also Toggle Unicode (alt+U) and enter "G+00EE" and then toggle back.

If you have the current commercial version, you should be able to find the single alternate g in the Glyph Browser.

If you are trying to create this using the old free version, you will need to convert the glyphs to curves and make the shape changes yourself.

Free version.  In the glyph browser in the free version, it only shows the existing g as typed, and when I try to use space or return after it, it does nothing for space and return creates an actual return.  

This was more to get used to how to use kerning to weld words together for laser cutting.  Even though I do love the font, I'll take any suggestions for a free one with a similar look that can be adjusted.  I don't mind paying for it but I think it was close to $200 for the commercial license (which I don't need).  Something more affordable for a small business is more the budget.    

[KariF]

2 hours ago, R C-R said:

That is because as your screenshot shows, you changed the tracking, not the kerning:

Tip: while learning how to use the app, it is helpful in Preferences > User Interface to set the Tooltip delay to a small value (slider almost all the way to the left) so the names of buttons, fields, etc. pop up quickly.

Thank you for the tip - was very helpul for a newbie.

[kenmcd]

11 minutes ago, KariF said:

I'll take any suggestions for a free one with a similar look that can be adjusted.

There are quite a few free script style/handwriting style fonts in Google Fonts which do connect.
Take a look here: https://fonts.google.com/?category=Handwriting&preview.text=Magic&preview.text_type=custom&preview.size=64

But you may have to at some point convert-to-curves and modify the shapes to get the result you want.

[KariF]

22 hours ago, LibreTraining said:

There are quite a few free script style/handwriting style fonts in Google Fonts which do connect.
Take a look here: https://fonts.google.com/?category=Handwriting&preview.text=Magic&preview.text_type=custom&preview.size=64

But you may have to at some point convert-to-curves and modify the shapes to get the result you want.

Thank you.  Will watch tutorial for convert-to-curves.  Have a feeling it will come in handy.