User manual

For individual staves, you can use a scale size of the default staff size in the layout. The most
appropriate staff size depends on the intended purpose of the layout.
For example, full orchestral scores that are quite dense need a much smaller staff size than
individual parts, which require large enough notes so that performers can read them easily.
Staves can overlap and the music can become illegible if the staff size is too large in dense
scores.
In Dorico Elements, you can set the staff size using the rastral size and the space size, depending
on which measurement is more appropriate for the selected layouts.
● Rastral size is the size of the full staff, measured from the bottom line to the top line.
●
Space size is the distance between two staff lines.
When changing the staff size of each layout in Layout Options, we recommend that you use one
of the preset rastral sizes, as these are based on traditional and generally accepted staff sizes
that are all widely used in music engraving.
NOTE
The size of staves can affect the size of system objects.
RELATED LINKS
System objects on page 913
Changing your preferred unit of measurement on page 45
Changing the default staff size on page 370
Staff spacing on page 408
Changing the size of individual staves
You can change the size of individual staves in each ow independently of other staves and
your layout settings. For example, piano accompaniment parts often include the solo line of the
instrument the piano is accompanying on a smaller staff.
A piano part with smaller viola staff above
You can change the size of individual staves to a set scale size, expressed as a percentage of the
normal staff size in the layout, or set a custom scale.
Layout and formatting
Staff size
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Dorico Elements 3.5.12