Use the Type tool to select the characters you want to shift vertically.
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Adjust text baseline and vertical position
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use baseline shift and offset options to control vertical text placement in Adobe InDesign.
Control text position using baseline shift for selected characters and first baseline offset for text frames. Baseline shift adjusts vertical position without affecting leading, while the first baseline offset sets the position of the first line within a frame.
Use baseline shift for inline adjustments (e.g., superscripts), and the first baseline offset to align text with grids or layout elements.
Adjust baseline shift for selected text
In the Character panel or Control panel, locate the Baseline Shift field.
Enter a positive value to shift text upward or a negative value to shift text downward.
Press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS).
Set the first baseline offset in a text frame
Use the Selection tool to select a text frame.
Select Object > Text Frame Options.
In the Text Frame Options dialog box, select the Baseline Options tab.
From the Offset menu under First Baseline, select one of the following options:
Ascent: Uses the full height of lowercase d characters.
Cap Height: Uses the height of uppercase letters.
Leading: Uses the text's leading value.
x Height: Uses the full height of lowercase x characters.
Fixed: Uses a specified distance.
If you selected Fixed, enter a value in the Min field to specify the distance from the top inset of the frame to the baseline of the first line.
Select OK.
Note
To align text frames to a document baseline grid, select Leading or Fixed as your first baseline offset option.
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