Adobe 23101335 User Guide - Page 274

264 CHAPTER 9 Using Type Using ligatures and old style numerals When working with OpenType fonts, you can use ligatures and old style typographic numerals in your type, if the font provides them. Ligatures are typographic replacements for certain pairs of characters, such as "fi" and "fl." Old style numerals are shorter than regular numerals, and some old style numerals descend below the type baseline. However, for type in small sizes (less than 20 points) displayed online, fractional character widths can cause type to run together or have too much extra space, making it difficult to read. You can turn off fractional character widths to fix type spacing in whole-pixel increments and prevent small type from running together. The fractional character width setting applies to all characters on a type layer-you cannot set the option for selected characters. To turn fractional character widths on or off: Choose Fractional Widths from the Character palette menu. A check mark indicates that the option is selected. Type with Ligatures option unselected and selected. To use ligatures or old style numerals: Choose Ligatures or Old Style from the Character palette menu. A check mark indicates that the option is selected. Rotating vertical type When working with vertical type, you can rotate the direction of characters by 90°. Rotated characters appear upright; unrotated characters appear sideways (perpendicular to the type line). Using fractional character widths By default, type is displayed using fractional character widths. This means that the spacing between characters varies, with fractions of whole pixels between some characters. In most situations, fractional character widths provide the best spacing for type appearance and readability. Original, and type without vertical rotation.