User Guide

Canvas 12 User Guide

Applying paragraph formatting

In Canvas, you can control paragraph attributes, such as justification and leading. Paragraph

attributes affect entire paragraphs, even if you select a single character, or place the insertion point

anywhere in the paragraph. If you select text in multiple paragraphs, all the paragraphs will be

affected.

Paragraph-level formatting includes leading and paragraph spacing, indents, tabs, alignment

(justification), automatic letter and word spacing, hyphenation, and widow and orphan controls.

Setting line and paragraph spacing

Using the Text menu, Properties bar, or Type palette, adjust the spacing, or leading, between lines of

text. You can also insert extra space before and after paragraphs using the Type palette.

Canvas provides two methods of specifying leading: ratio (or percentage) and point size.

Ratio and percentage leading: Based on the normal leading of the largest type size in the

preceding line. The normal leading is usually designed to be slightly larger than the point

size of the type; e.g., a single line of 12-point text usually occupies about 15 points of

vertical space when you specify 100% or Single Space leading. Therefore, double spaced, or

200%, leading for 12-point text increases the line spacing to about 30 points.

Leading specified in points: Independent of the type size and normal leading of the

typeface. The space from baseline to baseline is exactly the number of points specified,

regardless of the size of the type. Using point size leading lets you maintain consistent line

spacing, and fit text to specific space requirements; e.g., you have 10 lines of text, and

exactly 120 points of vertical space to place the text. To make the text fit, set the leading to

12 points.

Choose Text | Leading to set Single, 1

, or Double Space leading. You can also choose the Tighten

or Loosen commands to fine-tune the current leading in 0.5-point increments. You can tighten and

loosen the leading repeatedly, but the line spacing cannot be less than zero.

The text settings in the Properties bar provides the same options as the Leading submenu.

The Paragraph tab of the Type palette lets you adjust the leading by a specified percentage or point

size. You can also add space between paragraphs by specifying additional spacing in points on the

Paragraph tab of the Type palette.

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