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Leading

  1. InDesign User Guide
  2. Get to know InDesign
    1. Introduction to InDesign
      1. What's New in InDesign
      2. System requirements
      3. Common questions
      4. Use Creative Cloud libraries
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
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      3. South-East Asian Scripts
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      7. Glyphs and special characters
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      10. Generate QR codes
      11. Edit text
      12. Align text
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      14. Anchored objects
      15. Linked content
      16. Format paragraphs
      17. Format characters
    2. Typography
      1. Using fonts in InDesign
      2. Kerning and tracking
      3. Scale and skew type
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    3. Format text
      1. Format text
      2. Auto Style text
      3. Work with Style Packs
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    4. Review text
      1. Track and review changes
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    6. Add references
      1. Create a table of contents
      2. Footnotes
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      5. Captions
    7. Styles
      1. Paragraph and character styles
      2. Map, export, and manage styles
      3. Object styles
      4. Drop caps and nested styles
      5. Work with styles
      6. Leading
    8. Tables
      1. Format tables
      2. Create tables
      3. Table and Cell styles
      4. Select and edit tables
      5. Table strokes and fills
    9. Interactivity
      1. Hyperlinks
      2. Dynamic PDF documents
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      9. Page transitions
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    10. Graphics
      1. Understand paths and shapes
      2. Draw with the Pencil tool
      3. Draw with the Pen tool
      4. Apply line (stroke) settings 
      5. Compound paths and shapes
      6. Edit paths
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      8. Change corner appearance
      9. Frames and objects
      10. Align and distribute objects
      11. Linked and embedded graphics
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    11. Color and transparency
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      4. Mix inks
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  5. Find and replace
    1. Find and replace text
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    5. Find and replace objects
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    7. Search options to find and replace
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    4. Common questions about InDesign cloud documents
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    6. Share for Review
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  7. Publish
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      10. DPS and AEM Mobile overview
      11. Supported File Formats
      12. Export and import User Settings
    2. Printing
      1. Print booklets
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      3. Print documents
      4. Inks, separation, and screen frequency
      5. Overprinting
      6. Create PostScript and EPS files
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  8. Extend InDesign
    1. Automation
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      4. Scripting
  9. Troubleshooting
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash on launch
    4. Preference folder read-only issue
    5. Troubleshoot file issues
    6. Unable to export InDesign file to PDF
    7. InDesign document recovery

About leading

The vertical space between lines of type is called leading. Leading is measured from the baseline of one line of text to the baseline of the line above it. Baseline is the invisible line on which most letters—that is, those without descenders—sit.

The default auto-leading option sets the leading at 120% of the type size (for example, 12‑point leading for 10‑point type). When auto-leading is in use, InDesign displays the leading value in parentheses in the Leading menu of the Character panel.

Leading

A. Leading B. Text height C. Larger text size of one word increases leading for that one line. 

Change leading

By default, leading is a character attribute, which means that you can apply more than one leading value within the same paragraph. The largest leading value in a line of type determines the leading for that line. However, you can select a preferences option so that leading applies to the entire paragraph, instead of to text within a paragraph. This setting does not affect the leading in existing frames.

Change leading of selected text

  1. Select the text you want to change.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • In the Character panel or Control panel, choose the leading you want from the Leading menu .

    • Select the existing leading value and type a new value.

    • While creating a paragraph style, change the leading using the Basic Character Formats panel.

If InDesign ignores the leading change, it may be due to Vertical Justification or Align To Baseline Grid being selected. Choose Object > Text Frame Options and make sure Vertical Justification is set to Top, and make sure Do Not Align To Baseline Grid is selected in the Paragraph panel, Control panel, or paragraph style.

Note:

You can also adjust vertical space by aligning text to the baseline grid. When baseline grid is set, the baseline grid setting takes precedence over the leading value.

Change the default leading percentage

  1. Select the paragraphs that you want to change.
  2. Choose Justification from the Paragraph panel menu or from the Control panel menu.
  3. For Auto Leading, specify a new default percentage. The minimum value is 0%, and the maximum value is 500%.
Note:

The Auto option in the Leading pop‑up menu of the Control panel menu sets Auto Leading value in the Justification dialog box as a ratio (%) of character size. The default is 175% for text frames and 100% for frame grids.

Apply leading to whole paragraphs

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Type (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > Type (Mac OS).
  2. Select Apply Leading To Entire Paragraph, and then click OK.
Note:

When you use a character style to apply leading to text, the leading affects only the text to which the style is applied, not the entire paragraph, regardless of whether the Apply Leading To Entire Paragraph option is selected.

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The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online