How Do You Adjust the Cap Height and x-height Lines?

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Erwin Denissen
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How Do You Adjust the Cap Height and x-height Lines?

Post by Erwin Denissen »

The answer depends on the value of "Contents and Layout Version". To view or change that value, go to the Format menu, available on the main menu, and select Settings. Then on the Font Settings window click the Ranges tab.

If the Contents and Layout Version is either 0 or 1
You can change the top of the "x" and the "H" glyphs. Or set the Contents and Layout Version to 2 or 3, and then modify the x-Height and Cap Height values located on the same tab.

If the Contents and Layout Version is either 2 or 3
Again go to the Ranges page on the Font Settings window, and then modify the x-Height and Cap Height values located on the same tab.
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Dave Crosby
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Adjust the Cap Height and x-height Lines

Post by Dave Crosby »

When you create a new font the Version number is automatically set at 1, and the most commonly used guide lines are provided in red.

With that Version setting, if you wish to adjust the Cap Height and x-height Lines for your new font there are two glyphs set up to easily change them.

Go to the glyph editing window for Cap H and enter your glyph. In contour mode, select all, grab an upper corner and move the top of the glyph to whatever height you desire and the Cap Height line will move with it.

The numbers down in the lower left hand corner of the screen identify the exact location of the mouse arrow. When finished, change to point mode and click on a top line point. The last number on the bottom line identifies the height of the glyph.

You can make exact final adjustments by selecting all the top points of the glyph and use the arrow keys for perfect placement.
  • Hold down the Ctrl Key and press the arrow key to move one space (funit) at a time.
    Just pressing the arrow key moves 10 spaces at a time.
    Hold down the Shift key and the arrow key moves 100 spaces at a time.
Do the same with the glyph for lowercase x to change the x-height guide line.

If you want to make sure the lines do not move, use the information in the First Post to change the Version to 2 or higher.
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