Jump to content
You must now use your email address to sign in [click for more info] ×

Recommended Posts

I have been experimenting with drop caps in my poetry layouts and like the possibilities it offers. However, is it possible to have a Drop Cap out-dented from a paragraph or text body style so that it appears as though it is in a margin only?

I Am a Good Boy I Am (FILEminimizer).png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is possible to set up a pair of Paragraph Styles with a large Left Indent and then overriding the first line indent for each letter in the Drop Cap Paragraph Style so it sticks out farther to the left.  Or, you can try using Inline Pinning and separate frames if it is just a few.

Here are two frames, top is an image of the letter the lower is the actual letter alone in a text frame pinned the same way. Floating not inline.

150996404_ScreenShot2019-07-07at2_30_51PM.png.805924c01e7319a5564907ed9f477686.png

Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac OS 12.7.4 
Affinity Designer 2.4.0 | Affinity Photo 2.4.0 | Affinity Publisher 2.4.0 | Beta versions as they appear.

I have never mastered color management, period, so I cannot help with that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

It is possible to set up a pair of Paragraph Styles with a large Left Indent and then overriding the first line indent for each letter in the Drop Cap Paragraph Style so it sticks out farther to the left.  Or, you can try using Inline Pinning and separate frames if it is just a few.

Here are two frames, top is an image of the letter the lower is the actual letter alone in a text frame pinned the same way. Floating not inline.

150996404_ScreenShot2019-07-07at2_30_51PM.png.805924c01e7319a5564907ed9f477686.png

Thanks the pinning option may be the best workaround for now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

Inline Pinning and separate frames

Hallo Bruce, I have never ever heard of this.  I assume its a fancy expression for maybe just a seperate text box?  Or is that the top letter in your example.  I can make a custom drop cap, but am curious as what you meant.

Microsoft - Like entering your home and opening the stainless steel kitchen door, with a Popup: 'Do you really want to open this door'? Then looking for the dishwasher and finding it stored in the living room where you have to download a water supply from the app store, then you have to buy microsoft compliant soap, remove the carpet only to be told that it is glued to the floor.. Don't forget to make multiple copies of your front door key and post them to all who demand access to all the doors inside your home including the windows and outside shed.

Apple - Like entering your home and opening the oak framed Kitchen door and finding the dishwasher right in front you ready to be switched on, soap supplied, and water that comes through a water softener.  Ah the front door key is yours and it only needs to open the front door.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Chris26 said:

Hallo Bruce, I have never ever heard of this.  I assume its a fancy expression for maybe just a seperate text box?  Or is that the top letter in your example.  I can make a custom drop cap, but am curious as what you meant.

I suggested just abandoning the Drop Cap option in the Paragraph Style and using either a graphic or a small text frame to contain the letter. Very finicky and I wouldn't use it more than a few times in a small publication.

Essentially you are cutting out a letter from the headline of a newspaper and pasting it onto your typewritten letter. Inline Graphics are only in Publisher. This is what you see when you use View > Studio > Pinning.

1671661413_ScreenShot2019-07-08at2_40_47PM.thumb.png.a5d2cb917275f3fbc4b78ab4814a175f.png

Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac OS 12.7.4 
Affinity Designer 2.4.0 | Affinity Photo 2.4.0 | Affinity Publisher 2.4.0 | Beta versions as they appear.

I have never mastered color management, period, so I cannot help with that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This seemed like it "should" be possible, so I tried. Here is a solution. It's a 2-step process for each paragraph that contains an "out-dented" Drop Cap.

First, select the first word in the paragraph. Enable Drop Caps in the Paragraph panel, and set other parameters as you might like.

Second, with that word selected, go to Optical Alignment in the Characters Panel. Select "Manual" as the method for optical alignment, and make sure that the first letter of the word (the dropped cap) has an optical alignment of 100% on the Left margin. You might have to click the "Add" button if your drop cap character isn't listed. This will place the entire letter outside the left margin.

1817035202_DropCapstoLeftofTextBox.thumb.jpg.858913bd78745282f822d319f8e83cb7.jpg

Affinity Photo 2, Affinity Publisher 2, Affinity Designer 2 (latest retail versions) - desktop & iPad
Culling - FastRawViewer; Raw Developer - Capture One Pro; Asset Management - Photo Supreme
Mac Studio with M2 Max (2023}; 64 GB RAM; macOS 13 (Ventura); Mac Studio Display - iPad Air 4th Gen; iPadOS 17

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, smadell said:

This seemed like it "should" be possible, so I tried. Here is a solution. It's a 2-step process for each paragraph that contains an "out-dented" Drop Cap.

The above can be made into a paragraph style. Any/all letters can be added to the optical margin field. If changing the font for the DC, make a character style.

Capture_000102.png.a35b9940f5a8da8d10e626dec201df09.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, smadell said:

This seemed like it "should" be possible, so I tried. Here is a solution. It's a 2-step process for each paragraph that contains an "out-dented" Drop Cap.

First, select the first word in the paragraph. Enable Drop Caps in the Paragraph panel, and set other parameters as you might like.

Second, with that word selected, go to Optical Alignment in the Characters Panel. Select "Manual" as the method for optical alignment, and make sure that the first letter of the word (the dropped cap) has an optical alignment of 100% on the Left margin. You might have to click the "Add" button if your drop cap character isn't listed. This will place the entire letter outside the left margin.

1817035202_DropCapstoLeftofTextBox.thumb.jpg.858913bd78745282f822d319f8e83cb7.jpg

Yes that works very well. Thank you,

I Am a Good Boy I Am (FILEminimizer).png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Michael S Harvey said:

A nice effect.

Same effect can be had by using a 50% value in the Optical margin setting, using a character style for the DC and using the Initial words option for the first sentence set to Strong/Bold.

And, of course, this too can be all contained in a paragraph style.

Capture_000103.png.f57725fe0c4429eed0df31acf9b41adf.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, MikeW said:

Same effect can be had by using a 50% value in the Optical margin setting, using a character style for the DC and using the Initial words option for the first sentence set to Strong/Bold

So you can push a line out of text frame using Optical margin? Interesting – though it seems applying it is not too simple..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.