User manual

● Accidentals in the same column never collide. The minimum interval between accidentals
that is required to prevent collisions depends on the types of accidentals.
● Accidentals that are a second apart are arranged in adjacent columns, with the higher
accidental in the right-hand column.
These rules minimize the amount of extra space that is required between successive notes or
chords and ensure that accidentals appear as close as possible to the noteheads to which they
apply. At the same time, they produce a contour that resembles a C-curve on the left-hand side of
the chord.
Stacking rules for dense chords
For dense chords with six or more accidentals within the span of an octave, accidentals are
stacked as follows:
1.
The highest accidental is inserted in the rst column to the left of the notes.
2.
The next accidental on a note that is located at least a seventh below the highest note is
stacked into the same column. This continues with the remaining notes until no more
accidentals t into the rst column.
3.
Steps 1 and 2 are repeated for the following columns until all accidentals are stacked.
4.
The columns are grouped, interspersed, and re-stacked. This results in a stack with
alternating accidentals, reminiscent of the way accidentals are arranged in a key signature.
Kerning of accidental columns
Dorico Elements applies kerning to accidental columns to ensure that the columns to the left of a
chord occupy as little horizontal space as possible.
In typography, kerning adjusts the space between individual characters to increase legibility. In
Dorico Elements, as well as in music engraving in general, kerning allows accidentals to interlock.
EXAMPLE
If a low note is followed by a high note with an accidental, the accidental can be tucked above the
low note to prevent the note spacing from being distorted.
Similarly, in the case of multiple columns of accidentals on a chord, the overall width of the stack
of accidentals is reduced if, for example, a at in the second column is kerned underneath a
sharp in the rst column belonging to a note a third higher. This also reduces the need to distort
note spacing to accommodate accidentals.
Accidentals
Accidental duration rules
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