2015

Controlling tracking
Tracking lets you adjust the space between selected characters and words for copyfitting
and typographic effects. Tracking values are expressed as ½00 of an em space. A positive
tracking value increases the space to the right of each character; a negative value
decreases it.
Tracking is commonly used for copyfitting. However, too much tracking can interfere
with design and readability. When you are using tracking for copyfitting, consider
these guidelines:
• Track whole paragraphs rather than one line or one word.
• Establish guidelines for tracking (for example from +3 to –3).
• Make sure vertically adjacent paragraphs have similar tracking applied.
These are general rules; appropriate tracking values depend on the design, font, column
width, and other factors.
Tracking manually
To apply tracking to selected text, do one of the following things:
• (Windows only) : Choose Style > Track, enter a value in the Track Amount field, and
then click OK.
• Use the Track Amount controls in the Measurements palette.
• Use one of the keyboard commands below.
Mac OS X
• Decrease 1/20-em: Command+Shift+{
• Increase 1/20-em: Command+Shift+}
• Decrease 1/200-em: Command+Option+Shift+{
• Increase 1/200-em: Command+Option+Shift+}
Windows
• Decrease 1/20-em: Ctrl+Shift+{
• Increase 1/20-em: Ctrl+Shift+}
• Decrease 1/200-em: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+{
• Increase 1/200-em: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+}
Editing tracking tables
The application uses tracking information that is built into the font (the font's tracking
table). You can't change a font's tracking table, but you can create a custom tracking
table for any font by using the Tracking Edit dialog box (Utilities menu).
A GUIDE TO QUARKXPRESS 2015 | 153
TEXT AND TYPOGRAPHY